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Huntsville , TX
Sam Houston State University, established in 1879, is a public university located in Huntsville, Texas. With a proud history spanning over 140 years, SHSU offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs across eight colleges. The university is committed to providing a high-quality education and encourages its students to explore their passions, engage in critical thinking, and develop skills necessary for success in their chosen fields.
One of the key highlights of Sam Houston State University is its strong emphasis on experiential learning. The university understands the importance of practical application and offers numerous opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in their respective fields of study. From internships and co-op programs to research projects and community service initiatives, SHSU ensures that students have access to real-world learning experiences that enhance their academic knowledge and foster personal growth.
In addition to its academic offerings, Sam Houston State University boasts a vibrant campus life. With over 250 registered student organizations and 16 NCAA Division I athletic teams, there are ample opportunities for students to get involved and foster a sense of community. The university also ensures student well-being by providing various support services, including counseling, health services, and career development resources. Whether through academic pursuits or extracurricular activities, SHSU strives to create an inclusive and supportive environment that encourages students to reach their full potential.
Located in Huntsville, TX, Sam Houston State University is a public university. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 90%. The freshman retention rate at Sam Houston State University is 73.25% and the six-year graduation rate is 55%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is August 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 1.
Discover more about what you can expect if you get into Sam Houston State University.
Quick Facts
17,787
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
21:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
55%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to improve your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the university's criteria for admission. Learn some vital info about admission policy and requirements at Sam Houston State University.
According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 15,506 in 2025. Sam Houston State University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the candidate. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 92% and ACT scores 11%. 0.71% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 10.87% between 1,200 and 1,399, 50.68% between 1,000 and 1,199, 33.51% between 800 and 999, and 4.22% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 1.64, 24.59 between 24-29, 48.09 in the range between 18-23, 25.14 between 12-17, and 0.55 between 6-11.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 540 and an average SAT Math score of 525.
Deadlines
The application deadline for this school is August 1. If you are applying for a transfer, note that the application deadline is July 1.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Sam Houston State University was 73.25% in 2025, which is considered an above-average retention rate and is indicative of the quality of educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 55%.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the best fit for you is not a simple task. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Sam Houston State University in 2025 was 21,039.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 1.4% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 17,787, 127 of which were foreign students. The number of transfer students at this school was 1,810.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 6,047 male and 10,158 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the value gender equality has at this school. This school had 281 full-time graduate male and 609 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Sam Houston State University.
This school had 381 Asian students and 3,177 Afro-American students in 2025. 5,154 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 657 identified with more than one race. The school also had 20 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 131 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 230 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before sending an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Sam Houston State University estimated tuition fees.
Tuition fees for area resident were $7,320, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. Tuition fees were $19,470 for students coming from out of state. If you are an international student at Sam Houston State University, you should know that the 2025 tuition amounted to $19,470, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students summed up to $4,050 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $19,470 | $4,050 | $23,520 |
| In-State | $7,320 | $4,050 | $11,370 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,380.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
In 2025, room and board cost at Sam Houston State University amounted to $12,220 a year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school totaled $6,720, according to the data from 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 7,320 |
| Room and Board | $ 12,220 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,380 |
| Total Expense | $ 20,920 |
Financial Aid
Financial help for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Sam Houston State University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
According to the most recent data, 2,109 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $13,665 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
7,966 students secured some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Sam Houston State University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 9,489. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $43,276,241, and state $32,996,169. The students of Sam Houston State University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $4,736,999, and external in the amount of $4,594,425.
$3,697
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
493 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 123 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $43,276,241 while the state aid is $10,799. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $3,378,056. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $2,471,861 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
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Majors
Faculty
21:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2025, this ratio at Sam Houston State University was 21:1. That means that there were 21 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 1,064. This number included 494 male and 570 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Sam Houston State University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some info about social life at Sam Houston State University.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 180. This number includes sororities and fraternities. Students interested in music can join the Sam Houston State University band or chorus. If you have an interest in acting, there's a drama club you can be a part of. Interested in media and communication? Sam Houston State University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Sam Houston State University offers a number of services needed for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. Dormitory entrances at the school are electronically operated. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services and Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Sam Houston State University.
All in all, campus life at Sam Houston State University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Sam Houston State University.
Career Counselling
At Sam Houston State University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville, TX.
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Sam Houston State University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Sam Houston State University is 90%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Sam Houston State University is 73.25%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.