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Houston, TX · Huntsville, TX
| University of Houston-Downtown | Sam Houston State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $10,542/yr | $16,404/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $9,439/yr | $12,474/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $18,750 | $21,983 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $10,048/yr | $13,389/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $11,247/yr | $15,540/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $15,488/yr | $21,366/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $19,380/yr | $24,101/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $199/mo | $233/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | No data reported | $11,720/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $10,176/yr | $11,720/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,300/yr | $1,380/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | No data reported | $3,866/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $20,749/yr | $25,505/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $7,708/yr | $9,228/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $17,548/yr | $19,068/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 55% | 41% |
| Students taking federal loans | 30% | 46% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 90% | 90% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 940–1110 | 930–1120 |
| SAT average | 1029 | 1041 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 16–22 | 17–24 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 15–22 · Math 15–21 | English 18–26 · Math 16–22 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 6,953 | 17,582 |
| Students accepted | 6,302 | 15,014 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,491 | 3,601 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 24% | 24% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 43% | 48% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 4% | 7% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Not considered |
| Class rank | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| 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 | 33% | 55% |
| Freshmen who come back | 67% | 73% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $53,551/yr | $54,211/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $30,812–$72,505 | $36,263–$73,178 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 56% | 63% |
| White students graduating | 24% | 58% |
| Black students graduating | 32% | 44% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 35% | 57% |
| Asian students graduating | 29% | 61% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $49,120/yr | $45,337/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 75% | 78% |
| Graduate on time | 14% | 36% |
| Pell students who graduate | 35% | 50% |
| First-gen students who finish | 47% | 59% |
| Low-income students who finish | 46% | 56% |
| Students who transfer out | 30% | 22% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $50,849/yr | $49,729/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 40% · Psychology 10% · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies 9% | Homeland Security & Protective Services 20% · Business, Management & Marketing 18% · Health Professions 10% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 40% of degrees | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 20% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Psychology — 10% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 18% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies — 9% of degrees | Health Professions — 10% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 8% of degrees | Education — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Education — 6% of degrees | Psychology — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Statistics — $79,809/yr | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $88,636/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 12% | 11% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 12,555 | 17,743 |
| Students per professor | 18 : 1 | 19 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,108 | 3,252 |
| Average professor pay | $9,421/mo | $8,196/mo |
| Full-time professors | 54% | 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 | $24,910 | $37,602 |
| Setting | City (large) | Town (distant) |
| Location | Houston, TX | Huntsville, TX |
| Region | Southwest | Southwest |
| Founded | 1974 | 1879 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 1.8% | 0.7% |
| Men | 38% | 37% |
| Women | 62% | 63% |
| White students | 9.9% | 44% |
| Black students | 17% | 18% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 59% | 29% |
| Asian students | 8.2% | 2.2% |
| Two or more races | 2.4% | 3.7% |
| Other / not reported | 1.2% | 2.2% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 53% | 41% |
| Part-time students | 53% | 16% |
| Students age 25+ | 42% | 14% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $6,787/yr | $7,981/yr |
| Endowment | $64.4M | $190.8M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | No — no campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | No data reported | 4,112 |
| Required to live on campus | No data reported | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | No data reported | $6,384/yr |
| Meal plan charge | No data reported | $5,334/yr |
| Meal plan offered | No | Yes |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | Yes | 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 | Yes | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | Yes | Yes |
| Prepaid tuition plan | Yes | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | No data reported | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | No intercollegiate athletics reported | NCAA Division I-FBS |
| Football team | No data reported | Yes |
| Varsity teams | No data reported | 14 |
| Student athletes | No data reported | 384 |
| Athletic scholarships | No data reported | $6.0M |
| Athletics budget | No data reported | $32.0M |
| Athletics revenue | No data reported | $32.0M |
| Recruiting spend | No data reported | $251,724 |
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.