Kinesiology and exercise science
Ranked #116 of 459 for valueSports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness · 149 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $57,341
- Ranked-college median: $53,707
- Median debt
- $22,375
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Sam Houston State University acceptance rate
Acceptance rate: 90.3% (fall admissions, CollegesRef 2026–27 edition). 11,161 of 11,556 applicants were admitted. Middle 50% test scores: SAT Reading & Writing 480–570, SAT Math 450–550, ACT 17–24. Admissions details
What we know
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025- Students
- 17,743
Larger than 95% of colleges
National median 1,603
Sam Houston State UniversityMiddle half of collegesNational median
Check at the source
Is this campus your type?
Five questions match you to a college identity, then show where Sam Houston State University sits for you.
Take the fit quizAdmissions
Sam Houston State University admitted 90.3% of 11,556 applicants.
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Applicants11,556
90.3% of applicants were admitted
- Admitted11,161
24.7% of admitted students enrolled (yield)
- Enrolled (first-year)2,758
Middle 50% test scores
- SAT Reading & Writing
- 480–570
- 200800
- SAT Math
- 450–550
- 200800
- ACT Composite
- 17–24
- 136
Your chances
Check your chancesYour SAT or ACT against Sam Houston State University- SAT, middle 50%
- 930–1120
- ACT, middle 50%
- 17–24
Cost & financial aid
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Average net price
$14,788
What students paid per year on average after grants and scholarships. Your price depends on family income.
Published price vs. what students paid
- In-state tuition & fees
- $9,228
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $19,068
- Average net price
- $14,788
Students receiving Pell Grants
- Pell Grant recipients
- 47.1%
Free tools
Plan your costs for Sam Houston State University
- Can I afford it?Loan payment against what its graduates earn
- How much can I borrow?Federal loan limits and what is left to cover
- Will I get a Pell Grant?Estimate this year's award from your SAI
- What would I repay?Monthly payments on $27,000 of loans
Want it all in one PDF for up to three colleges? See a sample Aid & Loan Plan
Work out your cost
Plan the aid and loans
Aid & Loan Plan$14 once
A PDF that applies the 2026–27 federal aid rules to you and up to three colleges: Pell Grant, loan limits, the gap left and repayment.
Start with the Pell Grant estimator See a sample reportOutcomes
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
55.5%
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
73.3%
First-year retention
Students who return for a second year
Median earnings
$56,877
Former students who received federal aid
Programs at Sam Houston State University
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard, field of study, 2025
Bachelor's majors where Sam Houston State University is ranked in CollegesRef's value rankings. Earnings are medians 4 years after graduating, for graduates who received federal aid; the tick on each bar marks the median of all ranked colleges in that field.
Nursing
Ranked #158 of 686 for valueRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · 147 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $91,697
- Ranked-college median: $85,171
- Median debt
- $22,250
- Ranked-college median: $20,938
Mathematics
Ranked #191 of 208 for valueMathematics · 21 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $61,617
- Ranked-college median: $71,273
- Median debt
- $31,250
- Ranked-college median: $18,563
Criminal justice
Ranked #227 of 379 for valueCriminal Justice and Corrections · 804 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $51,748
- Ranked-college median: $55,481
- Median debt
- $19,500
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Computer science
Ranked #231 of 466 for valueComputer and Information Sciences, General · 38 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $96,727
- Ranked-college median: $97,375
- Median debt
- $20,750
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Finance
Ranked #238 of 330 for valueFinance and Financial Management Services · 106 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $72,388
- Ranked-college median: $77,916
- Median debt
- $22,500
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Accounting
Ranked #249 of 408 for valueAccounting and Related Services · 99 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $72,059
- Ranked-college median: $76,108
- Median debt
- $20,750
- Ranked-college median: $20,500
Communications
Ranked #278 of 388 for valueCommunication and Media Studies · 194 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $50,125
- Ranked-college median: $56,130
- Median debt
- $21,500
- Ranked-college median: $19,593
Marketing
Ranked #303 of 354 for valueMarketing · 70 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $55,522
- Ranked-college median: $67,486
- Median debt
- $20,125
- Ranked-college median: $19,523
Political science
Ranked #312 of 388 for valuePolitical Science and Government · 45 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $55,894
- Ranked-college median: $63,181
- Median debt
- $20,389
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Business
Ranked #474 of 986 for valueBusiness/Commerce, General · 252 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $63,837
- Ranked-college median: $64,860
- Median debt
- $22,603
- Ranked-college median: $21,375
Psychology
Ranked #484 of 814 for valuePsychology, General · 348 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $47,659
- Ranked-college median: $51,007
- Median debt
- $21,125
- Ranked-college median: $21,000
Biology
Ranked #497 of 680 for valueBiology, General · 145 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $53,165
- Ranked-college median: $58,001
- Median debt
- $24,092
- Ranked-college median: $20,717
Academics
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Total students
17,743
Academic calendar
Semester
Carnegie classification
R2 research university
A Doctoral University (which undergraduates attend) with high research activity.
Colleges like Sam Houston State University
Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, TX
Tarleton State UniversityStephenville, TX- Stephen F Austin State UniversityNacogdoches, TX
Location & details
Where the campus is, how far it sits from a major city, and other colleges within reach.
Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsville, TX, United States
Distances are straight-line miles, not driving distance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, tiles by OpenFreeMap and OpenMapTiles.
Campus
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX, United States
- Public
- R2 research university
Distant town
In a smaller urban cluster away from a large metro area.
- City
- Suburb
- Town (this campus)
- Rural
Nearest major cityHouston, TX · about 67 mi
In the city250 mi
- Calendar
- Semester
- Website
- shsu.edu
Colleges nearby
Grace School of Theology-Texas35.4 miConroe
Lone Star College System36.6 miThe Woodlands
Texas A & M University-College Station47.4 miCollege Station- Florida Career College-Houston Campus48.3 miHouston
Prairie View A & M University50.5 miPrairie View
Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service50.6 miHouston
Colleges nearby
- Grace School of Theology-Texas35 mi from Sam Houston State University
- Lone Star College System37 mi from Sam Houston State University
- Texas A & M University-College Station47 mi from Sam Houston State University
- Florida Career College-Houston Campus48 mi from Sam Houston State University
Still have a question?
Ask about admissions, cost or campus life at Sam Houston State University. Answers come from CollegesRef data.
Ask CollegesRefSpecial features
What sets this college apart, grouped by theme, each with what it means and the data or editorial tag behind it.
CollegesRef editorial
Academics
Research university
Doctoral university with high or very high research activity.
Carnegie classification: R2 research university
Athletics
NCAA Division I · The largest programs and athletic scholarships; big-time game days.
- D-INCAA Division I (this college)
- D-IINCAA Division II
- D-IIINCAA Division III
- NAIANAIA
- NJCAANJCAA
Tagged by CollegesRef editors as a big-time athletics school.
Cost & aid
Affordable
Lower cost than many comparable colleges for a typical family.
Average net price $14,788 a year after aid
Next step
Premium Fit Report$29 once
Your quiz result turned into up to 10 best-fit colleges, with reach, target and likely groups, costs, earnings and an action plan.
Start with the quiz See a sample reportCompare before you decide
Admit rate, net price and outcomes for Sam Houston State University and Texas State University, side by side.
Compare with Texas State UniversityFrequently asked questions
What is the Sam Houston State University acceptance rate for 2026?
Sam Houston State University admitted 90.3% of 11,556 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, the most recent release. That is the figure colleges report to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
How much is Sam Houston State University tuition?
In-state tuition at Sam Houston State University is $9,228 and out-of-state tuition is $19,068 a year before financial aid in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. The average net price after grants is $14,788 a year.
What is the average net price at Sam Houston State University?
The average net price at Sam Houston State University, what first-time, full-time students paid after grants and scholarships, was $14,788 a year in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. Your own price depends on family income; the college's net price calculator gives a personal estimate.
What is the graduation rate at Sam Houston State University?
55.5% of first-time, full-time students at Sam Houston State University graduate within six years (150% of normal time), according to the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
What colleges are similar to Sam Houston State University?
The closest matches are Texas State University, Tarleton State University, and Stephen F Austin State University, based on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile.
Sources
Last checked Nov 3, 2026
- Admissions
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Cost
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Outcomes
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Enrollment
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Figures come from federal reporting. Text marked “CollegesRef editorial” is our own summary, and similar-college lists come from CollegesRef matching. How we source data
