US CollegesGetting in
Sam Houston State University admits 90% of those who apply, which makes it open to most applicants. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1041 out of 1600 (midpoints: 525 in reading and writing, 510 in maths). The midpoint ACT score is 21 out of 36.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees, students from Texas | $9,228 |
| Tuition and fees, students from elsewhere | $19,068 |
| Room and meals on campus | $11,984 |
| Books and supplies | $1,380 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $25,474 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $14,788 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off (for a public college, students from inside the state). It is 4% above the median net price of colleges in Texas on this site ($14,222). International students are normally charged the out-of-state tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $11,734 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $11,472 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $12,286 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $17,548 |
| Above $110,000 | $23,418 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | TX median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 73% | 67% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 56% | 41% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $56,877 | $51,026 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $21,000 | $18,657 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in Texas and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
47% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 45% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 63% women and 37% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 20 of the 163 colleges in Texas on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 2,253.
Other colleges in Texas of a similar size
- Baylor UniversityWaco, private nonprofit
- The University of Texas at El PasoEl Paso, public
- The University of Texas at DallasRichardson, public
- Tarleton State UniversityStephenville, public
- University of Houston-DowntownHouston, public
- Texas Christian UniversityFort Worth, private nonprofit
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Sam Houston State University?
Sam Houston State University admits 90% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Sam Houston State University?
Published tuition and fees are $9,228 a year for students from Texas and $19,068 for others. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Sam Houston State University?
56% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.