UMHB vs. SHSU

Deciding between University of Mary Hardin Baylor 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.

University of Mary Hardin Baylor
Sam Houston State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMHB Belton, TX
  • SHSU Huntsville, TX
  • Setting
  • UMHB Small Suburban
  • SHSU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UMHB 3,321
  • SHSU 21,039
  • Type
  • UMHB Private 4 Year
  • SHSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMHB #783
  • SHSU #794
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMHB Baptist
  • SHSU -
  • Status
  • UMHB Non-profit
  • SHSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMHB
  • SHSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMHB $32,020
  • SHSU $9,228
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMHB $32,020
  • SHSU $19,068
  • Room & Board
  • UMHB $13,224
  • SHSU $11,720
  • Average Net Price
  • UMHB $27,651
  • SHSU $14,737
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMHB $19,320
  • SHSU $10,669
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMHB 99%
  • SHSU 66%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMHB 13,004
  • SHSU 17,179
  • Admitted
  • UMHB 12,452
  • SHSU 15,506
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMHB 95.8%
  • SHSU 90.3%
  • Enrolled
  • UMHB 5.5%
  • SHSU 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMHB 1080
  • SHSU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMHB 22
  • SHSU 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMHB 3.53
  • SHSU 3.25
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMHB A-
  • SHSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMHB Moderate
  • SHSU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMHB
  • SHSU
  • ACT Range
  • UMHB 19/26
  • SHSU 17/24
  • SAT Range
  • UMHB 960/1200
  • SHSU 930/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMHB Test optional
  • SHSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMHB
  • SHSU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMHB 17:1
  • SHSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMHB
    • Education (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • SHSU
    • Business (27%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • General Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMHB 46%
  • SHSU 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMHB $45,200
  • SHSU $47,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMHB 60%
  • SHSU 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMHB $26,750
  • SHSU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMHB $276
  • SHSU $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMHB 37%
  • SHSU 37%
  • % Women
  • UMHB 63%
  • SHSU 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMHB High
  • SHSU High
  • HBCU
  • UMHB No
  • SHSU No
  • % White
  • UMHB 57%
  • SHSU 53%
  • % Asian
  • UMHB 2%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Black
  • UMHB 15%
  • SHSU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMHB 20%
  • SHSU 20%
  • % Native American
  • UMHB 1%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMHB 0%
  • SHSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMHB 3%
  • SHSU 3%
  • % International
  • UMHB 2%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMHB 1%
  • SHSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMHB 97%
  • SHSU 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMHB 2%
  • SHSU 1%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton, TX 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 UMHB based on total student enrollment (21,039 students vs. 3,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Mary Hardin Baylor is located in Belton, TX (Small Suburban setting); Sam Houston State University is in Huntsville, TX (Remote Town setting).
  • University of Mary Hardin Baylor is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sam Houston State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Mary Hardin Baylor 17:1; Sam Houston State University 19:1.

UMHB vs. SHSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMHB 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 Sam Houston State University than UMHB ($14,737 vs. $27,651).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sam Houston State University are 11.4% lower than at University of Mary Hardin Baylor ($11,720 vs. $13,224).
  • University of Mary Hardin Baylor is 247% more expensive for in-state tuition than SHSU (about $22,792 more per year; $32,020.00 vs. $9,228.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 67.9% higher at UMHB than at Sam Houston State University (about $12,952 more per year; $32,020.00 vs. $19,068.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Mary Hardin Baylor than at Sam Houston State University (99% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Mary Hardin Baylor students is 81.1% larger than aid received by Sam Houston State University students ($19,320 vs. $10,669).

UMHB vs. SHSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMHB 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 UMHB.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Mary Hardin Baylor (1080) is 50 points higher than at SHSU (1030).
  • Incoming UMHB students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 20 at SHSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Mary Hardin Baylor 960/1200; Sam Houston State University 930/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Mary Hardin Baylor 19/26; Sam Houston State University 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMHB - Test optional; SHSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SHSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMHB students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at SHSU (3.25).
  • UMHB has a higher acceptance rate (95.8%) than SHSU (90.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.5% at UMHB vs. 21.1% at SHSU.

UMHB vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMHB 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 University of Mary Hardin Baylor's (46%).
  • Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than UMHB graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $45,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sam Houston State University graduates have a $5,250 lower median loan debt than UMHB graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,750).
  • Among borrowers, SHSU graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMHB graduates ($222 vs. $276).
  • More UMHB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SHSU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 57%)

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.