SHSU vs. SU

Deciding between Sam Houston State University and Southwestern University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Sam Houston State University
Southwestern University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SHSU Huntsville, TX
  • SU Georgetown, TX
  • Setting
  • SHSU Remote Town
  • SU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • SHSU 21,039
  • SU 1,440
  • Type
  • SHSU Public 4 Year
  • SU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SHSU #794
  • SU #196
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SHSU -
  • SU United Methodist
  • Status
  • SHSU Non-profit
  • SU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SHSU
  • SU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SHSU $9,228
  • SU $53,813
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SHSU $19,068
  • SU $53,813
  • Room & Board
  • SHSU $11,720
  • SU $15,072
  • Average Net Price
  • SHSU $14,737
  • SU $32,228
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SHSU $10,669
  • SU $35,162
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SHSU 66%
  • SU 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SHSU 17,179
  • SU 6,313
  • Admitted
  • SHSU 15,506
  • SU 2,718
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SHSU 90.3%
  • SU 43.1%
  • Enrolled
  • SHSU 21.1%
  • SU 13.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SHSU 1030
  • SU 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • SHSU 20
  • SU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • SHSU 3.25
  • SU 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SHSU B+
  • SU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SHSU Very Easy
  • SU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • SHSU
  • SU Low
  • ACT Range
  • SHSU 17/24
  • SU 26/30
  • SAT Range
  • SHSU 930/1120
  • SU 1130/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SHSU Test optional
  • SU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SHSU Aug 1, 2027
  • SU Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SHSU 19:1
  • SU 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SHSU
    • Business (27%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • General Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • SU
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SHSU 50%
  • SU 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SHSU $47,800
  • SU $57,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SHSU 57%
  • SU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SHSU $21,500
  • SU $26,893
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SHSU $222
  • SU $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SHSU 37%
  • SU 45%
  • % Women
  • SHSU 63%
  • SU 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SHSU High
  • SU Medium
  • HBCU
  • SHSU No
  • SU No
  • % White
  • SHSU 53%
  • SU 62%
  • % Asian
  • SHSU 1%
  • SU 4%
  • % Black
  • SHSU 19%
  • SU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • SHSU 20%
  • SU 22%
  • % Native American
  • SHSU 1%
  • SU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SHSU 0%
  • SU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SHSU 3%
  • SU 4%
  • % International
  • SHSU 1%
  • SU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SHSU 2%
  • SU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SHSU 98%
  • SU 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SHSU 1%
  • SU 9%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • SHSU Yes
  • SU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • SHSU No
  • SU No
  • Meal Plan
  • SHSU Yes
  • SU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • SHSU Yes
  • SU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • SHSU No
  • SU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX with Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sam Houston State University is larger than SU based on total student enrollment (21,039 students vs. 1,440 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville, TX (Remote Town setting); Southwestern University is in Georgetown, TX (Distant Town setting).
  • Sam Houston State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Southwestern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Sam Houston State University 19:1; Southwestern University 11:1.

SHSU vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHSU or SU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sam Houston State University than SU ($14,737 vs. $32,228).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sam Houston State University are 22.2% lower than at Southwestern University ($11,720 vs. $15,072).
  • Southwestern University is 483.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SHSU (about $44,585 more per year; $53,813.00 vs. $9,228.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 182.2% higher at SU than at Sam Houston State University (about $34,745 more per year; $53,813.00 vs. $19,068.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern University than at Sam Houston State University (99% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern University students is 229.6% larger than aid received by Sam Houston State University students ($35,162 vs. $10,669).

SHSU vs. SU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHSU or SU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SU and SHSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Southwestern University (1220) is 190 points higher than at SHSU (1030).
  • Incoming SU students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 20 at SHSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sam Houston State University 930/1120; Southwestern University 1130/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sam Houston State University 17/24; Southwestern University 26/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHSU - Test optional; SU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SHSU Aug 1, 2027; SU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at SHSU (3.25).
  • SHSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.3%) than SU (43.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at SHSU vs. 13.8% at SU.

SHSU vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHSU and SU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Southwestern University's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Sam Houston State University's (50%).
  • Graduates from Southwestern University earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than SHSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,400 vs. $47,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sam Houston State University graduates have a $5,393 lower median loan debt than SU graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,893).
  • Among borrowers, SHSU graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SU graduates ($222 vs. $278).
  • More SU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SHSU students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.