UIW vs. SHSU

Deciding between University of the Incarnate Word 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 the Incarnate Word
Sam Houston State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UIW San Antonio, TX
  • SHSU Huntsville, TX
  • Setting
  • UIW Large City
  • SHSU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UIW 7,047
  • SHSU 21,039
  • Type
  • UIW Private 4 Year
  • SHSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UIW #776
  • SHSU #794
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UIW Roman Catholic
  • SHSU -
  • Status
  • UIW Non-profit
  • SHSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UIW
  • SHSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UIW $37,090
  • SHSU $9,228
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UIW $37,090
  • SHSU $19,068
  • Room & Board
  • UIW $14,296
  • SHSU $11,720
  • Average Net Price
  • UIW $23,363
  • SHSU $14,737
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UIW $25,354
  • SHSU $10,669
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UIW 100%
  • SHSU 66%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UIW 11,316
  • SHSU 17,179
  • Admitted
  • UIW 11,105
  • SHSU 15,506
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UIW 98.1%
  • SHSU 90.3%
  • Enrolled
  • UIW 9.1%
  • SHSU 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UIW 1020
  • SHSU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • UIW 20
  • SHSU 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • UIW 3.5
  • SHSU 3.25
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UIW A-
  • SHSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UIW Very Easy
  • SHSU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • UIW
  • SHSU
  • ACT Range
  • UIW 17/24
  • SHSU 17/24
  • SAT Range
  • UIW 900/1140
  • SHSU 930/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UIW Test-free
  • SHSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UIW
  • SHSU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UIW 12:1
  • SHSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UIW
    • Business (43%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • SHSU
    • Business (27%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • General Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UIW 43%
  • SHSU 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UIW $49,600
  • SHSU $47,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UIW 48%
  • SHSU 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UIW $27,179
  • SHSU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UIW $281
  • SHSU $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UIW 38%
  • SHSU 37%
  • % Women
  • UIW 62%
  • SHSU 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UIW Medium
  • SHSU High
  • HBCU
  • UIW No
  • SHSU No
  • % White
  • UIW 19%
  • SHSU 53%
  • % Asian
  • UIW 2%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Black
  • UIW 7%
  • SHSU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • UIW 59%
  • SHSU 20%
  • % Native American
  • UIW 0%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UIW 0%
  • SHSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UIW 1%
  • SHSU 3%
  • % International
  • UIW 5%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UIW 6%
  • SHSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UIW 97%
  • SHSU 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UIW 3%
  • SHSU 1%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, 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 UIW based on total student enrollment (21,039 students vs. 7,047 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of the Incarnate Word is located in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting); Sam Houston State University is in Huntsville, TX (Remote Town setting).
  • University of the Incarnate Word 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 the Incarnate Word 12:1; Sam Houston State University 19:1.

UIW vs. SHSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UIW 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 UIW ($14,737 vs. $23,363).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sam Houston State University are 18% lower than at University of the Incarnate Word ($11,720 vs. $14,296).
  • University of the Incarnate Word is 301.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SHSU (about $27,862 more per year; $37,090.00 vs. $9,228.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 94.5% higher at UIW than at Sam Houston State University (about $18,022 more per year; $37,090.00 vs. $19,068.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of the Incarnate Word than at Sam Houston State University (100% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of the Incarnate Word students is 137.6% larger than aid received by Sam Houston State University students ($25,354 vs. $10,669).

UIW vs. SHSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UIW 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 UIW.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sam Houston State University (1030) is 10 points higher than at UIW (1020).
  • Incoming UIW students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 20) as students at SHSU (20).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of the Incarnate Word 900/1140; Sam Houston State University 930/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of the Incarnate Word 17/24; Sam Houston State University 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UIW - Test-free; SHSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SHSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UIW students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at SHSU (3.25).
  • UIW has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than SHSU (90.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.1% at UIW vs. 21.1% at SHSU.

UIW vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UIW 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 the Incarnate Word's (43%).
  • Graduates from University of the Incarnate Word earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than SHSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,600 vs. $47,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sam Houston State University graduates have a $5,679 lower median loan debt than UIW graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,179).
  • Among borrowers, SHSU graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UIW graduates ($222 vs. $281).
  • More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIW students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 48%)

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.