Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University is a public research university in Huntsville, Texas, with about 17,743 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 90.26% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $54,211 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $9,228
- 2024 Average Net Price: $16,404 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 90.26% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 17,743 83.5% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 54.76%
- Average SAT Score: 1041
Sam Houston State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Sam Houston State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Sam Houston State University?
Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville, TX (ZIP 77340).
NCES locale classification: Town distant.
Is Sam Houston State University public or private?
Sam Houston State University is a Public institution.
How much does Sam Houston State University cost?
Published tuition: $9,228 in-state, $19,068 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $16,404.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $12,474 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $13,389 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $15,540 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $21,366 |
| $110,001+ | $24,101 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $36,912.
How hard is it to get into Sam Houston State University?
Admission rate: 90.26%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1041 and midpoint ACT 21.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Sam Houston State University?
Total enrollment: 17,743 students.
About 84% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Sam Houston State University?
150%-time completion rate: 54.76%.
First-year retention: 73.2%.
What do graduates of Sam Houston State University earn?
Median earnings: $45,337 six years after entry; $54,211 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $21,983.
41.33% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Sam Houston State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (5,278 completions)
- Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration (788 completions)
- General Psychology (349 completions)
- Casino Operations and Services (322 completions)
- Business Administration, Management, & Operations (252 completions)
- CIP 520201 (166 completions)
- CIP 310505 (157 completions)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research (147 completions)
- Health Professions and Related Programs (129 completions)
- CIP 430199 (116 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Sam Houston State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 90.26%; completion rate 54.76%; median earnings $54,211 at 10 years; net price $16,404. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$9,228
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Sam Houston State University was $9,228.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$16,404
2024 Value
In 2024 Sam Houston State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $16,404.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$65,616 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$16,404 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$36,912 4-Year In-State Tuition
$76,272 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Sam Houston State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
41.33% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
45.65% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Sam Houston State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Sam Houston State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $7,022 | $15,518 | $12,392 |
| 2014 | $7,294 | $15,982 | $12,237 |
| 2015 | $7,618 | $16,978 | $12,887 |
| 2016 | $7,762 | $17,554 | $13,670 |
| 2017 | $8,062 | $18,022 | $13,560 |
| 2018 | $8,296 | $18,256 | $13,666 |
| 2019 | $8,536 | $18,664 | $14,617 |
| 2020 | $8,736 | $18,552 | $15,035 |
| 2021 | $8,960 | $18,752 | $15,446 |
| 2022 | $8,960 | $18,752 | $15,134 |
| 2023 | $9,228 | $19,020 | $16,025 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
90.26% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1041
ACT Average: 21
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
83.5% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Sam Houston State University in 2024 is 17,743 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
73.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
36.05% 100% Completion Time
54.76% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 36.05% of students graduating from Sam Houston State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Sam Houston State University.
Return on Investment
$21,983 Median Student Debt
$54,211 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
40.55% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
726.19% Return on Investment
4.1 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Sam Houston State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration: 788 completions
General Psychology: 349 completions
Casino Operations and Services: 322 completions
Business Administration, Management, & Operations: 252 completions
CIP 52.0201: 166 completions
CIP 31.0505: 157 completions
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 147 completions
Health Professions and Related Programs: 129 completions
CIP 43.0199: 116 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 5,278 completions
Most popular programs at Sam Houston State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Sam Houston State University graduates.
About
Sam Houston State University is a public institution located in Huntsville, TX, offering 105 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 17,743 students. The admission rate is 90.26%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1041. The institution maintains a 54.76% graduation rate. Approximately 41.33% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Public
Location
Huntsville, TX 77340
Region: Southwest
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 105 distinct degree programs, Sam Houston State University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does Sam Houston State University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $9,228 and average net price is $16,404 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Sam Houston State University?
The admission rate is 90.3% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Sam Houston State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Sam Houston State University reports midpoint SAT about 1041 and midpoint ACT about 21.
What do graduates of Sam Houston State University earn?
Median earnings are $45,337 six years after entry and $54,211 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Sam Houston State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 54.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Sam Houston State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $21,983.
How big is Sam Houston State University?
Total enrollment is about 17,743 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Sam Houston State University public or private?
Sam Houston State University is a public institution located in Huntsville, TX.
Is Sam Houston State University an HBCU?
No. Sam Houston State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Sam Houston State University a tribal college?
No. Sam Houston State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Sam Houston State University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Sam Houston State University reports 29.0% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is Sam Houston State University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Sam Houston State University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.