Alcorn State University vs. SHSU

Should I go to Alcorn State University or Sam Houston State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Alcorn State University or SHSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Alcorn State University vs. Sam Houston State University comparison
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Alcorn State University Sam Houston State University
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Overview

 Alcorn State University SHSU
Location Alcorn State, MS Huntsville, TX
Setting Distant Rural Remote Town
Enrollment 2,894 21,403
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #991 #747
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website alcorn.edu shsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Alcorn State University SHSU
Tuition (In State) $7,869 $5,856
Tuition (Out of State) $7,869 $15,648
Room & Board $10,255 $11,720
Avg Net Price $13,155 $14,556
Avg Grant Aid $10,763 $9,941
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 65%

Admission

 Alcorn State University SHSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,511 17,582
Admitted 1,852 15,014
Acceptance Rate 24.7% 85.4%
Enrolled % 27.3% 24%
Avg High School GPA 3.2 3.25
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 15/24 19/25
SAT Range 850/998 940/1140
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 Alcorn State University SHSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (6%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

 Alcorn State University SHSU
Graduation Rate 33% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $33,600 $47,800
Making Student Loan Payments 34% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $28,250 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $292 $222

Diversity

 Alcorn State University SHSU
% Men 5% 5%
% Women 11% 10%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low High
HBCU Yes No
% White 3% 53%
% Black 93% 19%
% Hispanic 0% 20%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

 Alcorn State University SHSU
% In-State 70% 99%
% Out-of-State 30% 1%

Campus

 Alcorn State University SHSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Sam Houston State University is larger than than Alcorn State University based on total student enrollment (21,403 students vs. 2,894 students)

Alcorn State University vs. SHSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alcorn State University or SHSU?

  • Alcorn State University is 34.4% more expensive to attend than SHSU for in-state tuition ($7,869.00 vs. $5,856.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 98.9% higher at SHSU than Alcorn State University ($15,648.00 vs. $7,869.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Alcorn State University than SHSU ($13,155 vs. $14,556)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alcorn State University are 14.3% lower than costs at Sam Houston State University ($10,255 vs. $11,720)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Alcorn State University than Sam Houston State University (100% vs. 65%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alcorn State University students is 8.3% larger than aid received Sam Houston State University ($10,763 vs. $9,941)

Alcorn State University vs. SHSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alcorn State University or SHSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SHSU or Alcorn State University .

  • The average SAT score at Sam Houston State University (997) is 126 points higher than at Alcorn State University (871)
  • Incoming SHSU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Alcorn State University (18)
  • Accepted freshman SHSU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.25) than students at Alcorn State University (3.2)
  • SHSU has a higher acceptance rate (85.4%) than Alcorn State University (24.7%)

Alcorn State University vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Alcorn State University or SHSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SHSU and Alcorn State University.

  • The graduation rate at SHSU is higher than Alcorn State University (50% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn on average $14,200 more per year than Alcorn State University graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $33,600)
  • Sam Houston State University students graduate with a $6,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Alcorn State University graduates. ($21,500 vs. $28,250)
  • SHSU graduates are paying $70 less per month on federal student loans than Alcorn State University graduates. ($222 vs. $292)
  • More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alcorn State University students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 34%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/