UT-Pan American vs. SHSU

Comparable Facts

Compare The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, TX with Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is larger than SHSU based on total student enrollment (33,881 students vs. 21,039 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is located in Edinburg, TX (Small City setting); Sam Houston State University is in Huntsville, TX (Remote Town setting).
• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sam Houston State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 20:1; Sam Houston State University 19:1.

UT-Pan American vs. SHSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UT-Pan American 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 The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley than SHSU ($5,282 vs. $14,737).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley are 17% lower than at Sam Houston State University ($9,728 vs. $11,720).
• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is 8.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SHSU (about $759 more per year; $9,987.00 vs. $9,228.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4% higher at UT-Pan American than at Sam Houston State University (about $759 more per year; $19,827.00 vs. $19,068.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley than at Sam Houston State University (93% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley students is 9.3% larger than aid received by Sam Houston State University students ($11,663 vs. $10,669).

UT-Pan American vs. SHSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UT-Pan American 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 UT-Pan American.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sam Houston State University (1030) is 40 points higher than at UT-Pan American (990).
• Incoming SHSU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (20 vs. 18 at UT-Pan American).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 880/1090; Sam Houston State University 930/1120.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 15/21; Sam Houston State University 17/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UT-Pan American - Test optional; SHSU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UT-Pan American Jul 1, 2027; SHSU Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SHSU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.25) than students at UT-Pan American (3.16).
• UT-Pan American has a higher acceptance rate (94.2%) than SHSU (90.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.5% at UT-Pan American vs. 21.1% at SHSU.

UT-Pan American vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UT-Pan American 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).

• Sam Houston State University's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's (42%).
• Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than UT-Pan American graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $41,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley graduates have a $10,961 lower median loan debt than SHSU graduates ($10,539 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, UT-Pan American graduates have an estimated $114 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHSU graduates ($108 vs. $222).
• More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT-Pan American students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 51%)

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.