loading 6,000+ schools…
Huntsville, TX · San Marcos, TX
| Sam Houston State University | Texas State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $16,404/yr | $16,805/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $12,474/yr | $12,715/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $21,983 | $21,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $13,389/yr | $13,557/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $15,540/yr | $13,804/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $21,366/yr | $20,028/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $24,101/yr | $24,713/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $233/mo | $223/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $11,720/yr | $12,630/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $11,720/yr | $12,850/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,380/yr | $760/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,866/yr | $4,290/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $25,505/yr | $28,073/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $9,228/yr | $11,450/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $19,068/yr | $22,930/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 41% | 37% |
| Students taking federal loans | 46% | 41% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 90% | 89% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 930–1120 | 980–1200 |
| SAT average | 1041 | 1103 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 17–24 | 19–25 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 18–26 · Math 16–22 | English 18–26 · Math 17–24 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 17,582 | 37,183 |
| Students accepted | 15,014 | 33,273 |
| Students who enrolled | 3,601 | 7,930 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 24% | 24% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 48% | 47% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 7% | 7% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Not considered |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| 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) | Required |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 55% | 55% |
| Freshmen who come back | 73% | 80% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $54,211/yr | $56,906/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $36,263–$73,178 | $38,577–$80,902 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 63% | 62% |
| White students graduating | 58% | 59% |
| Black students graduating | 44% | 46% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 57% | 54% |
| Asian students graduating | 61% | 66% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $45,337/yr | $46,716/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 78% | 79% |
| Graduate on time | 36% | 34% |
| Pell students who graduate | 50% | 49% |
| First-gen students who finish | 59% | 58% |
| Low-income students who finish | 56% | 56% |
| Students who transfer out | 22% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $49,729/yr | $52,554/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Homeland Security & Protective Services 20% · Business, Management & Marketing 18% · Health Professions 10% | Business, Management & Marketing 16% · Communication & Journalism 10% · Visual & Performing Arts 8% |
| Most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 20% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 16% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 18% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 10% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Health Professions — 10% of degrees | Visual & Performing Arts — 8% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Education — 8% of degrees | Psychology — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Psychology — 8% of degrees | Health Professions — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $88,636/yr | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $84,758/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 11% | 16% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 17,743 | 36,177 |
| Students per professor | 19 : 1 | 21 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 3,252 | 4,438 |
| Average professor pay | $8,196/mo | $9,186/mo |
| Full-time professors | 79% | 79% |
| 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 | $42,889 |
| Setting | Town (distant) | City (small) |
| Location | Huntsville, TX | San Marcos, TX |
| Region | Southwest | Southwest |
| Founded | 1879 | 1899 |
| 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% | 2% |
| Men | 37% | 41% |
| Women | 63% | 59% |
| White students | 44% | 36% |
| Black students | 18% | 9.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 29% | 41% |
| Asian students | 2.2% | 2.8% |
| Two or more races | 3.7% | 3.1% |
| Other / not reported | 2.2% | 5.2% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 41% | 36% |
| Part-time students | 16% | 14% |
| Students age 25+ | 14% | 8.4% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $7,981/yr | $6,786/yr |
| Endowment | $190.8M | $411.8M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 4,112 | 6,753 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $6,384/yr | $7,661/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,334/yr | $4,570/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | No data reported | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | Yes — Army, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FBS | NCAA Division I-FBS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 14 | 12 |
| Student athletes | 384 | 383 |
| Athletic scholarships | $6.0M | $8.1M |
| Athletics budget | $32.0M | $52.2M |
| Athletics revenue | $32.0M | $52.2M |
| Recruiting spend | $251,724 | $1.0M |
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.