SUNO vs. SHSU

Deciding between Southern University at New Orleans and Sam Houston State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Southern University at New Orleans
Sam Houston State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SUNO New Orleans, LA
  • SHSU Huntsville, TX
  • Setting
  • SUNO Large City
  • SHSU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • SUNO 2,468
  • SHSU 21,039
  • Type
  • SUNO Public 4 Year
  • SHSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SUNO
  • SHSU #794
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SUNO -
  • SHSU -
  • Status
  • SUNO Non-profit
  • SHSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SUNO
  • SHSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SUNO $8,054
  • SHSU $9,228
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SUNO $16,954
  • SHSU $19,068
  • Room & Board
  • SUNO $11,337
  • SHSU $11,720
  • Average Net Price
  • SUNO $14,480
  • SHSU $14,737
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SUNO $11,231
  • SHSU $10,669
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SUNO 89%
  • SHSU 66%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SUNO 6,526
  • SHSU 17,179
  • Admitted
  • SUNO 5,149
  • SHSU 15,506
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SUNO 78.9%
  • SHSU 90.3%
  • Enrolled
  • SUNO 3.2%
  • SHSU 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SUNO 940
  • SHSU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • SUNO 17
  • SHSU 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • SUNO 2.4
  • SHSU 3.25
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SUNO C+
  • SHSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • SUNO Extremely Easy
  • SHSU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • SUNO
  • SHSU
  • ACT Range
  • SUNO 15/20
  • SHSU 17/24
  • SAT Range
  • SUNO 820/1050
  • SHSU 930/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SUNO Required
  • SHSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SUNO Jul 1, 2027
  • SHSU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SUNO 13:1
  • SHSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SUNO
    • Business (23%)
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Human Services (15%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (14%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
  • SHSU
    • Business (27%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • General Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SUNO -
  • SHSU 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SUNO $31,600
  • SHSU $47,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SUNO 22%
  • SHSU 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SUNO $24,348
  • SHSU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SUNO $251
  • SHSU $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SUNO 34%
  • SHSU 37%
  • % Women
  • SUNO 66%
  • SHSU 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SUNO Extremely Low
  • SHSU High
  • HBCU
  • SUNO Yes
  • SHSU No
  • % White
  • SUNO 3%
  • SHSU 53%
  • % Asian
  • SUNO 1%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Black
  • SUNO 85%
  • SHSU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • SUNO 1%
  • SHSU 20%
  • % Native American
  • SUNO 0%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SUNO 0%
  • SHSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SUNO 0%
  • SHSU 3%
  • % International
  • SUNO 0%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SUNO 10%
  • SHSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SUNO 74%
  • SHSU 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SUNO 25%
  • SHSU 1%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • SUNO Yes
  • SHSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • SUNO No
  • SHSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • SUNO Yes
  • SHSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • SUNO Yes
  • SHSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • SUNO No
  • SHSU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Southern University at New Orleans in New Orleans, LA with Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sam Houston State University is larger than SUNO based on total student enrollment (21,039 students vs. 2,468 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Southern University at New Orleans is located in New Orleans, LA (Large City setting); Sam Houston State University is in Huntsville, TX (Remote Town setting).
  • Southern University at New Orleans is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sam Houston State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Southern University at New Orleans 13:1; Sam Houston State University 19:1.

SUNO vs. SHSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNO or SHSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern University at New Orleans than SHSU ($14,480 vs. $14,737).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern University at New Orleans are 3.3% lower than at Sam Houston State University ($11,337 vs. $11,720).
  • Sam Houston State University is 14.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNO (about $1,174 more per year; $9,228.00 vs. $8,054.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.5% higher at SHSU than at Southern University at New Orleans (about $2,114 more per year; $19,068.00 vs. $16,954.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southern University at New Orleans than at Sam Houston State University (89% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern University at New Orleans students is 5.3% larger than aid received by Sam Houston State University students ($11,231 vs. $10,669).

SUNO vs. SHSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SUNO or SHSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SHSU and SUNO.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sam Houston State University (1030) is 90 points higher than at SUNO (940).
  • Incoming SHSU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (20 vs. 17 at SUNO).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southern University at New Orleans 820/1050; Sam Houston State University 930/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southern University at New Orleans 15/20; Sam Houston State University 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNO - Required; SHSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SUNO Jul 1, 2027; SHSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SHSU students have a 0.85 point higher average high school GPA (3.25) than students at SUNO (2.4).
  • SHSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.3%) than SUNO (78.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 3.2% at SUNO vs. 21.1% at SHSU.

SUNO vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SUNO and SHSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn a median of about $16,200 more per year than SUNO graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $31,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sam Houston State University graduates have a $2,848 lower median loan debt than SUNO graduates ($21,500 vs. $24,348).
  • Among borrowers, SHSU graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNO graduates ($222 vs. $251).
  • More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNO students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 22%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.