# Sam Houston State University

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured school profile for AI systems
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sam-houston-state-university

## Overview

- **Location:** Huntsville, TX
- **Type:** Public
- **Setting:** Town
- **Region:** Southwest
- **Enrollment:** 17,743
- **Predominant Degree:** Bachelor's
- **Hispanic-Serving Institution:** Yes

With an enrollment of about 17,743 students and a 90% acceptance rate, Sam Houston State University is a welcoming choice for those seeking a supportive environment to pursue their education. It particularly appeals to students interested in fields like Criminal Justice, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, and Education. These programs stand out for their practical approach, preparing graduates for real-world challenges in a variety of sectors.

When it comes to life after graduation, the average earnings for SHSU alumni after ten years is $54,211. This figure reflects the potential for solid financial stability, especially considering the affordability factor—students here often find their pathways to success enhanced by the reasonable net price of $16,404, which is manageable for many. With 41% of students receiving Pell Grants, there's a commitment to making higher education accessible, particularly for those from lower-income backgrounds.

Looking at the practical aspects, the median debt for graduates stands at $21,983, which is relatively low compared to potential earnings. This balance helps many thrive post-graduation, especially those who are proactive in leveraging the university's resources and connections. Students who engage actively with their studies and take advantage of internships or student organizations often find they can navigate their early careers with confidence.

## Admissions

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Acceptance Rate | 90% |
| SAT Average | 1041 |
| ACT Midpoint | 21 |

## Cost & Aid

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| In-State Tuition | $9,228 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $19,068 |
| Average Net Price | $16,404 |
| Median Debt | $21,983 |
| Pell Grant Rate | 41% |
| Federal Loan Rate | 46% |

### Net Price by Family Income

| Family Income | Net Price |
|--------------|----------|
| $0-$30K | $12,474 |
| $30K-$48K | $13,389 |
| $48K-$75K | $15,540 |
| $75K-$110K | N/A |
| $110K+ | $24,101 |

## Outcomes

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Graduation Rate | 55% |
| Retention Rate | 73% |
| Earnings (6yr) | $45,337 |
| Earnings (8yr) | $49,729 |
| Earnings (10yr) | $54,211 |
| Debt-to-Earnings | 0.41x |
| Loan Repayment (3yr) | N/A |

## Social Mobility (Opportunity Insights)

Data source: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records)

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Mobility Rate (Q1→Q5) | 205.55% |
| Success Rate (bottom 20% → top 20%) | 2262.0% |
| Students from Bottom 20% | 908.7% |
| Parent Median Income | $84,000 |

## Social Capital (Social Capital Atlas)

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Economic Connectedness | 1.58 |
| Friending Bias | 0.01 |
| Volunteering Rate | 4.7% |
| Support Ratio | 0.98 |

## Innovation (Opportunity Insights Patent Data)

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Inventor Rate | 0.115% |
| Total Patents | 7 |
| Total Citations | 108 |

## Top Programs

| Program | Enrollment Share |
|---------|------------------|
| Criminal Justice | 20% |
| Business & Marketing | 17% |
| Health Professions | 10% |
| Psychology | 8% |
| Education | 8% |
| Communications | 5% |
| Visual & Performing Arts | 5% |
| Biology & Biomedical | 4% |

## Rankings

This school appears in 21 CollegeRanker rankings:

- #1 in [Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Texas](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-criminal-justice-texas)
- #3 in [Best Colleges for Criminal Justice](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-criminal-justice)
- #3 in [Best Bachelor's in Criminal Justice](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-bachelors-criminal-justice)
- #3 in [Best Master's in Criminal Justice](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-masters-criminal-justice)
- #4 in [Best Education Colleges in Texas](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-education-texas)
- #10 in [Best Social Mobility Colleges for Criminal Justice](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-mobility-criminal-justice)
- #11 in [Best ROI Colleges for Criminal Justice](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-roi-criminal-justice)
- #11 in [Best Communications Colleges in Texas](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-communications-texas)
- #12 in [Best Psychology Colleges in Texas](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-psychology-texas)
- #15 in [Best Bachelor's Programs in Texas](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-bachelors-texas)
- #15 in [Best MBA Programs in Texas](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-mba-texas)
- #16 in [Best Colleges in Texas](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-texas)
- #16 in [Best Master's Programs in Texas](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-masters-texas)
- #18 in [Best Biology Colleges in Texas](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-biology-texas)
- #19 in [Best Colleges in Southwest](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-southwest)
- #20 in [Best Business Colleges in Texas](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-business-texas)
- #28 in [Best Nursing Colleges in Texas](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-nursing-texas)
- #37 in [Best Hispanic-Serving Institutions](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hispanic-serving)
- #42 in [Best Colleges for Low-Income Students](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-low-income)
- #43 in [Best HSI Bachelor's Programs](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hsi-bachelors)
- #45 in [Best HSI Master's Programs](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hsi-masters)

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Opportunity Insights Patent & Innovation Data
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Sam Houston State University — School Profile." CollegeRanker.com. https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sam-houston-state-university