Sam Houston State acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
Sam Houston State University · Public · Huntsville, TX · 18,179 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
Sam Houston State admitted 85.4% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 65.0% in 2013. Texas residents pay $9,228 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $19,068.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 65.0% | 9,315 | 6,054 |
| 2014 | 73.7% | 9,175 | 6,759 |
| 2015 | 72.7% | 9,242 | 6,720 |
| 2016 | 71.9% | 12,556 | 9,034 |
| 2017 | 74.4% | 12,383 | 9,212 |
| 2018 | 78.5% | 11,819 | 9,283 |
| 2019 | 83.4% | 11,569 | 9,649 |
| 2020 | 92.5% | 12,025 | 11,123 |
| 2021 | 96.6% | 11,556 | 11,161 |
| 2022 | 84.6% | 16,316 | 13,809 |
| 2023 | 85.4% | 17,582 | 15,014 |
Applications went from 9,315 in fall 2013 to 17,582 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 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 |
| Over $110,000 | $23,418 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $9,228 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $19,068 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $25,474 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $14,788 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 48% submitted the SAT, 7% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| UTSA TX | 88.5% | $9,019 in-state |
| Texas State TX | 89.5% | $11,481 in-state |
| UTA TX | 81.3% | $11,950 in-state |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
Sam Houston State admitted 15,014 of the 17,582 students who applied for fall 2023, a rate of 85.4%.1 Back in fall 2013 the figure was 65.0%, so it has risen 20.4 percentage points.1 The highest reading was 96.6% in 2021, and the rate declined in 3 of the 10 yearly changes.1 Applications grew 89%, from 9,315 to 17,582, and the admitted count moved from 6,054 to 15,014.1
Test scores are optional, with 48% of enrolled students reporting the SAT and 7% the ACT.1 SAT scores sent by enrolled students spanned 480 to 580 in reading and writing and 460 to 560 in math, with the ACT composite at 19 to 25.1
Texas residents pay $9,228 in tuition and fees for 2025-26, while nonresidents pay $19,068.2 The resident price is under the $9,727 median across 36 public bachelor's colleges in Texas.2 Net price in 2024-25 averaged $11,734 for families earning $0 to $30,000, $12,286 for $48,001 to $75,000, and $23,418 over $110,000.2
Of 2019 entrants, 56% graduated within 6 years, above the 45% state median across 89 colleges, and 73% of fall 2023 entrants were retained.2 Median earnings after 10 years are $56,877, almost matching the $56,771 state median, and median federal debt is $21,000.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 17,582 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 15,014 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 3,601 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 18,179 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 480 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 580 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 460 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 560 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 19 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 25 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 48% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 7% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $9,228 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $19,068 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $25,474 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $14,788 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $11,734 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $11,472 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $12,286 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $17,548 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $23,418 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 56% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 73% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 47% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $56,877 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $21,000 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, Texas (N = 36) | $9,727 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, Texas (N = 89) | 45% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry, Texas (N = 93) | $56,771 | College Scorecard, median MD_EARN_WNE_P10, bachelor's institutions, 2022-232 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with Sam Houston State, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page