HBU vs. SHSU

Should I go to Houston Baptist University or Sam Houston State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if HBU 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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Houston Baptist University vs. Sam Houston State University comparison
Houston Baptist University Sam Houston State University College 3 College 4
Houston Baptist University Sam Houston State University
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Overview

HBU SHSU
Location Houston, TX Huntsville, TX
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 4,257 21,480
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #740 #778
Religious Affiliation Southern Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hbu.edu shsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

HBU SHSU
Tuition (In State) $34,250 $5,856
Tuition (Out of State) $34,250 $15,648
Room & Board $9,130 $10,908
Avg Net Price $19,515 $13,632
Avg Grant Aid $26,908 $10,499
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 73%

Admission

HBU SHSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,258 16,316
Admitted 8,666 13,809
Acceptance Rate 84.5% 84.6%
Enrolled % 8.4% 24.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.25
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/26 18/24
SAT Range 1060/1230 960/1140
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2024

Academics

HBU SHSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

HBU SHSU
Graduation Rate 45% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,600 $47,800
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,166 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $249 $222

Diversity

HBU SHSU
% Men 33% 36%
% Women 67% 64%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 27% 53%
% Black 19% 19%
% Hispanic 30% 20%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

HBU SHSU
% In-State 91% 98%
% Out-of-State 5% 1%

Campus

HBU 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 HBU based on total student enrollment (21,480 students vs. 4,257 students)

HBU vs. SHSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HBU or SHSU?

  • Houston Baptist University is 484.9% more expensive to attend than SHSU for in-state tuition ($34,250.00 vs. $5,856.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 118.9% higher at HBU than Sam Houston State University ($34,250.00 vs. $15,648.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sam Houston State University than HBU ($13,632 vs. $19,515)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Houston Baptist University are 19.5% lower than costs at Sam Houston State University ($9,130 vs. $10,908)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Houston Baptist University than Sam Houston State University (100% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Houston Baptist University students is 156.3% larger than aid received Sam Houston State University ($26,908 vs. $10,499)

HBU vs. SHSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Houston Baptist University (1060) is 63 points higher than at SHSU (997)
  • Incoming HBU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at SHSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman HBU students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at SHSU (3.25)
  • SHSU has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than HBU (84.5%)

HBU vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, HBU 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 HBU.

  • The graduation rate at SHSU is higher than Houston Baptist University (50% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Houston Baptist University earn on average $3,800 more per year than SHSU graduates after ten years. ($51,600 vs. $47,800)
  • Sam Houston State University students graduate with a $2,666 lower median federal student loan debt than HBU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $24,166)
  • SHSU graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than HBU graduates. ($222 vs. $249)
  • More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HBU students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 54%)

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