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Huntsville, TX · Stephenville, TX
| Sam Houston State University | Tarleton State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $16,404/yr | $20,783/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $12,474/yr | $15,574/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $21,983 | $19,606 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $13,389/yr | $16,980/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $15,540/yr | $20,396/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $21,366/yr | $23,466/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $24,101/yr | $24,076/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $233/mo | $208/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $11,720/yr | $10,920/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $11,720/yr | $13,292/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,380/yr | $1,248/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,866/yr | $3,882/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $25,505/yr | $24,100/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $9,228/yr | $8,302/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $19,068/yr | $18,142/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 41% | 34% |
| Students taking federal loans | 46% | 40% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 90% | 90% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 930–1120 | 980–1160 |
| SAT average | 1041 | 1075 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 17–24 | 19–24 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 18–26 · Math 16–22 | English 16–23 · Math 17–24 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 17,582 | 8,746 |
| Students accepted | 15,014 | 8,239 |
| Students who enrolled | 3,601 | 2,702 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 24% | 33% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 48% | 48% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 7% | 18% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Not considered |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 55% | 48% |
| Freshmen who come back | 73% | 70% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $54,211/yr | $53,040/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $36,263–$73,178 | $35,348–$73,166 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 63% | 57% |
| White students graduating | 58% | 51% |
| Black students graduating | 44% | 36% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 57% | 43% |
| Asian students graduating | 61% | 35% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $45,337/yr | $46,729/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 78% | 76% |
| Graduate on time | 36% | 33% |
| Pell students who graduate | 50% | 43% |
| First-gen students who finish | 59% | 47% |
| Low-income students who finish | 56% | 42% |
| Students who transfer out | 22% | 29% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $49,729/yr | $50,130/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Homeland Security & Protective Services 20% · Business, Management & Marketing 18% · Health Professions 10% | Business, Management & Marketing 20% · Agriculture & Veterinary Science 14% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 11% |
| Most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 20% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 20% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 18% of degrees | Agriculture & Veterinary Science — 14% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Health Professions — 10% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 11% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Education — 8% of degrees | Health Professions — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Psychology — 8% of degrees | Psychology — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $88,636/yr | Educational Administration and Supervision — $86,406/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 11% | 13% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 17,743 | 12,673 |
| Students per professor | 19 : 1 | 20 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 3,252 | 2,179 |
| Average professor pay | $8,196/mo | $8,339/mo |
| Full-time professors | 79% | 59% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $37,602 | $40,809 |
| Setting | Town (distant) | Town (remote) |
| Location | Huntsville, TX | Stephenville, TX |
| Region | Southwest | Southwest |
| Founded | 1879 | 1896 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Men | 37% | 39% |
| Women | 63% | 61% |
| White students | 44% | 63% |
| Black students | 18% | 5.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 29% | 24% |
| Asian students | 2.2% | 1.4% |
| Two or more races | 3.7% | 3.2% |
| Other / not reported | 2.2% | 2% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 41% | 42% |
| Part-time students | 16% | 13% |
| Students age 25+ | 14% | 15% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $7,981/yr | $5,674/yr |
| Endowment | $190.8M | $112.2M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 4,112 | 4,202 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $6,384/yr | $6,378/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,334/yr | $4,468/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | No data reported | 17 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | Yes — Army, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | No | No |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | Yes | Yes |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FBS | NCAA Division I-FCS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 14 | 13 |
| Student athletes | 384 | 424 |
| Athletic scholarships | $6.0M | $6.3M |
| Athletics budget | $32.0M | $34.3M |
| Athletics revenue | $32.0M | $34.3M |
| Recruiting spend | $251,724 | $652,225 |
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.