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Compare Sam Houston State University vs Stephen F Austin State University

Huntsville, TX · Nacogdoches, TX

Sam Houston State UniversityStephen F Austin State University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$16,404/yr$14,260/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$12,474/yr$10,318/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$21,983$23,409
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$13,389/yr$11,023/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$15,540/yr$13,100/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$21,366/yr$17,609/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$24,101/yr$22,959/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$233/mo$248/mo
Room & board (on campus)$11,720/yr$13,144/yr
Room & board (off campus)$11,720/yr$12,184/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,380/yr$1,208/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$3,866/yr$3,350/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$25,505/yr$25,791/yr
Tuition (in-state)$9,228/yr$11,128/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$19,068/yr$23,426/yr
Students with Pell Grants41%39%
Students taking federal loans46%41%
Getting in
Students who get accepted90%94%
SAT range (middle 50%)930–1120970–1170
SAT average10411066
ACT range (middle 50%)17–2418–24
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 18–26 · Math 16–22English 17–23 · Math 17–23
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received17,58212,591
Students accepted15,01411,112
Students who enrolled3,6012,072
Accepted students who enroll24%19%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores48%50%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores7%14%
High-school GPARequiredOptional (considered if sent)
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Recommendation lettersNot consideredNot considered
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Required
College-prep programOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredNot considered
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredNot consideredNot considered
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate55%53%
Freshmen who come back73%72%
Typical earnings 10 years in$54,211/yr$49,634/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$36,263–$73,178$32,573–$67,133
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)63%56%
White students graduating58%58%
Black students graduating44%45%
Hispanic students graduating57%48%
Asian students graduating61%64%
Typical earnings 6 years in$45,337/yr$43,144/yr
Earn more than a HS grad78%75%
Graduate on time36%39%
Pell students who graduate50%47%
First-gen students who finish59%52%
Low-income students who finish56%46%
Students who transfer out22%28%
Typical earnings 8 years in$49,729/yr$47,094/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsHomeland Security & Protective Services 20% · Business, Management & Marketing 18% · Health Professions 10%Business, Management & Marketing 20% · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies 15% · Health Professions 14%
Most popular programHomeland Security & Protective Services — 20% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 20% of degrees
2nd most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 18% of degreesMulti/Interdisciplinary Studies — 15% of degrees
3rd most popular programHealth Professions — 10% of degreesHealth Professions — 14% of degrees
4th most popular programEducation — 8% of degreesVisual & Performing Arts — 10% of degrees
5th most popular programPsychology — 8% of degreesParks, Recreation & Fitness — 6% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Business Administration, Management and Operations — $88,636/yrRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $74,683/yr
Degrees in STEM11%7.5%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment17,7438,728
Students per professor19 : 116 : 1
Graduate students3,2521,343
Average professor pay$8,196/mo$8,694/mo
Full-time professors79%76%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited bySouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Median family income$37,602$44,426
SettingTown (distant)Town (remote)
LocationHuntsville, TXNacogdoches, TX
RegionSouthwestSouthwest
Founded18791921
Public or privatePublicPublic
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationDoctoral Universities: High Research ActivityMaster's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students0.7%0.9%
Men37%37%
Women63%63%
White students44%55%
Black students18%12%
Hispanic or Latino students29%24%
Asian students2.2%1.2%
Two or more races3.7%4%
Other / not reported2.2%2.4%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students41%35%
Part-time students16%9.8%
Students age 25+14%11%
Spent on teaching per student$7,981/yr$9,033/yr
Endowment$190.8M$135.4M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing4,1123,911
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$6,384/yrNo data reported
Meal plan charge$5,334/yrNo data reported
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekNo data reportedVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesNo
ROTCYes — ArmyYes — Army
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceYesYes
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
Weekend & evening classesYesNo
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careNoNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolNoNo
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationNoYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionYesYes
Prepaid tuition planNoYes
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FBSNCAA Division I-FCS
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams1416
Student athletes384589
Athletic scholarships$6.0M$6.0M
Athletics budget$32.0M$22.5M
Athletics revenue$32.0M$22.5M
Recruiting spend$251,724$444,639

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.