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Sam Houston State University
Admission at Sam Houston State University is close to open (90.3%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $54,211 median earnings below before the application.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
Sam Houston State University anchors the college town of Huntsville, TX, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint. The university runs its own medical system, which colors both its budget and its biggest programs.
Its highest-earning path is Computer and Information Sciences, General, where graduates median $96,727 four years out. 41.3% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 17,743 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 73.3% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 940 and 1140 — below the TX middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Sam Houston State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Sam Houston State University received 17,582 applications and admitted 15,014 (85.4%), with 3,601 enrolling.
You can apply to Sam Houston State University without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 940 and 1140; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 480 | 530 | 580 |
| SAT Math | 460 | 520 | 560 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 21 | 25 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Sam Houston State University compares
| Sam Houston State University | Texas median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 90.3% | 84.4% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $9,228 | $13,498 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $54,211 | $54,132 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Sam Houston State University: $54,211 median at year ten, versus $54,132 across Texas institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $9,228 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $19,068. For non-residents, Sam Houston State University's $19,068 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
Sam Houston State University is a big school: 17,743 undergraduates at last count.
54.8% graduate within six years. Roughly 45% don't — ask a Sam Houston State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Sam Houston State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $96,727 |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | $93,904 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $91,697 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $79,544 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $73,734 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $72,388 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $72,059 |
| Agricultural Mechanization | $67,729 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $67,464 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $63,837 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $62,302 |
| Mathematics | $61,617 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $61,464 |
| International Business | $61,186 |
| Agriculture, General | $60,598 |
| Music | $58,743 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $57,689 |
| Chemistry | $57,410 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $57,341 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $57,019 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $56,225 |
| Geography and Cartography | $56,151 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $55,954 |
| Political Science and Government | $55,894 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $55,647 |
| Marketing | $55,522 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $55,155 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $54,816 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $54,082 |
| Biology, General | $53,165 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $52,901 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $51,748 |
| Public Health | $50,970 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $50,512 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $50,125 |
| History | $50,084 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $49,840 |
| Animal Sciences | $49,636 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $49,134 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $48,761 |
| Dance | $48,568 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $47,823 |
| Psychology, General | $47,659 |
| Graphic Communications | $42,579 |
| Sociology | $42,152 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $39,565 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $36,389 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $31,854 |
Median earnings for these 48 Sam Houston State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $54,211 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 18 additional Sam Houston State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Sam Houston State University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 940–1140 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 90.3% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Sam Houston State University's acceptance rate?
85.4% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 15,014 admitted from 17,582 applicants.
How much does Sam Houston State University cost?
In-state tuition is $9,228; out-of-state students pay $19,068. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Sam Houston State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $54,211 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Texas
- University of St Thomas — 89.9% admitted
- Schreiner University — 88.2% admitted
- St. Mary's University — 97.8% admitted
- Nelson University — 89% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.