Sam Houston State University

4/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Huntsville, TX
4.5 2 reviews

#10 Best Public Universities in Texas

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

21,039

Location Huntsville, Texas
Website shsu.edu
Type Public 4 Year
Setting Remote Town

Size Large
Status Non-profit
Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate

Sam Houston State University, located in Huntsville, Texas, approximately 70 miles north of Houston, operates on a sprawling campus in a small-town setting. The institution, founded in 1879 as Sam Houston Normal Institute, stands as the third-oldest public university in Texas and bears the name of Texas historical figure Sam Houston. The university maintains strong academic programs in criminal justice, education, and business, with its College of Criminal Justice recognized as one of the oldest and most established in the nation. Students reside in traditional residence halls and apartment-style housing complexes across campus, while the university competes in NCAA Division I athletics as the Bearkats in the Western Athletic Conference. The campus features a mix of historic and modern architecture, including the notable Austin Hall, which serves as the oldest continuously operating educational building west of the Mississippi River.

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Ratings

SHSU is rated within the lower 39% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 4 out of 10.

Overall Rating

4 out of 10
Academics

4 out of 10
Resources

3 out of 10
Outcomes

6 out of 10
Value

3 out of 10

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Rankings

Rankings for Sam Houston State University within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

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Admissions

Admission Standards

Very Easy

SAT (enrolled mid-50) 930/1120
ACT (enrolled mid-50) 17/24

Acceptance Rate

90.3%

Applications Due Aug 1, 2027
Enrollment Rate 21.1%
Application Fee $50

Applicant Competition Very Low

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Annual Cost to Attend

Texas Resident Tuition

$9,228

Out of State Resident Tuition

$19,068

Breakdown

Tuition $9,228
Books and Supplies $1,380
Other Fees $3,372
Room and Board $11,720
Budget for Other Expenses $3,866
Total One Year Cost $29,566

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Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$47,800 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

50% within 6 years

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Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at Sam Houston State University are Business, Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting, and General Studies. 27% of students major in Business, 16% in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting, and 12% in General Studies.