Sam Houston State University (SHSU)
Public four-year university in Huntsville, TX that costs an average of $14,788 a year after financial aid, admits 90% of applicants and graduates 56% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$14,788
Acceptance rate
90%
Graduation rate
56%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$56,877
PublicTown (distant)17,743 undergraduates
Cost of SHSU
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $25,474 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $9,228 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $19,068 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $11,984 |
| Books and supplies | $1,380 |
| Average net price after aid | $14,788 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $11,734 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $11,472 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $12,286 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $17,548 |
| $110,001+ | $23,418 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with SHSU's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 90% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,041 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 480–570 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 450–550 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 17–24 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 56% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 73% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $48,793 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $56,877 |
| Rank in Texas (earnings) | 46th of 93 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $21,000 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $239 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 47% |
| Students with federal loans | 45% |
Majors and programs at SHSU
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (66)
Certificate programs (9)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communication and Media Studies | — | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | — | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | — | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | — | — | — |
| Homeland Security | — | — | — |
| Music | — | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | — | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Political Science and Government | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (49)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 286 | $93,734 | $34,750 |
| Public Administration | 37 | $86,633 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | 30 | $70,688 | — |
| Music | 37 | $67,549 | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 65 | $66,006 | $34,619 |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 24 | $64,012 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 21 | $63,602 | — |
| English Language and Literature | 10 | $62,500 | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 34 | $62,010 | — |
| Library Science and Administration | 89 | $61,147 | $35,556 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 161 | $61,140 | $32,560 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 145 | $59,933 | $26,979 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 232 | $58,530 | $37,526 |
| Homeland Security | 63 | $57,462 | $39,320 |
| History | 45 | $54,705 | $35,443 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 198 | $52,932 | $41,000 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 36 | $52,863 | $23,400 |
| Agriculture | 25 | $50,745 | — |
| Education, Other | — | $48,733 | — |
| Agricultural Production Operations | 10 | — | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 6 | — | — |
| Biology | 26 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 10 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 11 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 24 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 21 | — | — |
| Dance | 12 | — | — |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 18 | — | — |
| Economics | — | — | — |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | — | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 3 | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 19 | — | — |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences | 14 | — | — |
| History and Political Science | — | — | — |
| International and Comparative Education | 9 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 28 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 37 | — | $34,431 |
| Psychology | 6 | — | — |
| Public Health | 29 | — | — |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 12 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 3 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 18 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 3 | — | — |
| Security Science and Technology | 19 | — | — |
| Sociology | 15 | — | — |
| Statistics | 13 | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 39 | — | $51,171 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (10)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 39 | $96,028 | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 16 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 3 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 12 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 4 | — | — |
| Education, Other | 9 | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 9 | — | — |
| Security Science and Technology | 6 | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 16 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 11 | — | — |
Professional degree programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine | 69 | — | $207,472 |
Graduate certificate programs (23)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Production Operations | — | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | — | — | — |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | — | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | — | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 15 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | — | — | — |
| Education, Other | — | — | — |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | — | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | — | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 17 | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | — | — | — |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences | — | — | — |
| History | 7 | — | — |
| Homeland Security | 22 | — | — |
| Music | — | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 14 | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | — | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | — | — | — |
| Sociology | 1 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | — | — | — |
Similar colleges in Texas
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas at El Paso | El Paso | $6,803 | 100% | $54,599 |
| The University of Texas at Dallas | Richardson | $15,271 | 65% | $74,762 |
| Tarleton State University | Stephenville | $20,525 | 90% | $56,673 |
| University of Houston-Downtown | Houston | $9,828 | 90% | $57,404 |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg | $4,858 | 94% | $52,947 |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio | San Antonio | $9,872 | 87% | $60,704 |
| East Texas A&M University | Commerce | $13,974 | 92% | $52,631 |
| The University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington | $17,040 | 80% | $72,508 |
About SHSU
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Huntsville, TX |
| Setting | Town (distant) |
| Undergraduates | 17,743 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 19 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Website | shsu.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is SHSU's acceptance rate?
Sam Houston State University admits 90% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,041 on the SAT.
How much does SHSU cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $25,474 a year (tuition and fees: $9,228 in-state, $19,068 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $14,788 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $11,734.
How much do SHSU graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $56,877 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 46th of 93 similar colleges in Texas. The best-paid bachelor's program is registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing ($82,571 a year after graduation).
What is SHSU's graduation rate?
56% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 73% of first-year students return for a second year.