UNT vs. SHSU

Deciding between University of North Texas 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 North Texas
Sam Houston State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UNT Denton, TX
  • SHSU Huntsville, TX
  • Setting
  • UNT Midsize City
  • SHSU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UNT 46,864
  • SHSU 21,039
  • Type
  • UNT Public 4 Year
  • SHSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UNT #671
  • SHSU #794
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UNT -
  • SHSU -
  • Status
  • UNT Non-profit
  • SHSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UNT
  • SHSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UNT $11,309
  • SHSU $9,228
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UNT $21,149
  • SHSU $19,068
  • Room & Board
  • UNT $11,194
  • SHSU $11,720
  • Average Net Price
  • UNT $15,965
  • SHSU $14,737
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UNT $10,408
  • SHSU $10,669
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UNT 84%
  • SHSU 66%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UNT 38,477
  • SHSU 17,179
  • Admitted
  • UNT 27,793
  • SHSU 15,506
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UNT 72.2%
  • SHSU 90.3%
  • Enrolled
  • UNT 24.2%
  • SHSU 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UNT 1110
  • SHSU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • UNT 23
  • SHSU 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • UNT 3.46
  • SHSU 3.25
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UNT B+
  • SHSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UNT Moderate
  • SHSU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • UNT Low
  • SHSU
  • ACT Range
  • UNT 19/27
  • SHSU 17/24
  • SAT Range
  • UNT 980/1230
  • SHSU 930/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UNT Test optional
  • SHSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UNT Aug 1, 2027
  • SHSU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UNT 25:1
  • SHSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UNT
    • Business (21%)
    • General Studies (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • SHSU
    • Business (27%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • General Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UNT 49%
  • SHSU 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UNT $47,000
  • SHSU $47,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UNT 55%
  • SHSU 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UNT $20,000
  • SHSU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UNT $206
  • SHSU $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UNT 46%
  • SHSU 37%
  • % Women
  • UNT 54%
  • SHSU 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UNT Very High
  • SHSU High
  • HBCU
  • UNT No
  • SHSU No
  • % White
  • UNT 47%
  • SHSU 53%
  • % Asian
  • UNT 6%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Black
  • UNT 12%
  • SHSU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • UNT 22%
  • SHSU 20%
  • % Native American
  • UNT 0%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UNT 0%
  • SHSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UNT 8%
  • SHSU 3%
  • % International
  • UNT 4%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UNT 1%
  • SHSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UNT 90%
  • SHSU 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UNT 3%
  • SHSU 1%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Texas in Denton, TX with Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Texas is larger than SHSU based on total student enrollment (46,864 students vs. 21,039 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of North Texas is located in Denton, TX (Midsize City setting); Sam Houston State University is in Huntsville, TX (Remote Town setting).
  • University of North Texas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sam Houston State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Texas 25:1; Sam Houston State University 19:1.

UNT vs. SHSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNT 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 UNT ($14,737 vs. $15,965).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Texas are 4.5% lower than at Sam Houston State University ($11,194 vs. $11,720).
  • University of North Texas is 22.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SHSU (about $2,081 more per year; $11,309.00 vs. $9,228.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.9% higher at UNT than at Sam Houston State University (about $2,081 more per year; $21,149.00 vs. $19,068.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of North Texas than at Sam Houston State University (84% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sam Houston State University students is 2.5% larger than aid received by University of North Texas students ($10,669 vs. $10,408).

UNT vs. SHSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNT 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 UNT.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Texas (1110) is 80 points higher than at SHSU (1030).
  • Incoming UNT students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 20 at SHSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Texas 980/1230; Sam Houston State University 930/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Texas 19/27; Sam Houston State University 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNT - Test optional; SHSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UNT Aug 1, 2027; SHSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UNT students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at SHSU (3.25).
  • SHSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.3%) than UNT (72.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.2% at UNT vs. 21.1% at SHSU.

UNT vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNT 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 North Texas's (49%).
  • Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn a median of about $800 more per year than UNT graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $47,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Texas graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than SHSU graduates ($20,000 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UNT graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHSU graduates ($206 vs. $222).
  • More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNT students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 55%)

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.