Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, Texas · Public · 90.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 58/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Sam Houston State University (SHSU) scores 58 (Below Average Value) - a result reflecting weak average earnings ($39,300 at six years), a 10.7-year payback, and a completion rate of 54.8% that means nearly half of students do not graduate. The 72.3% three-year repayment rate is adequate. SHSU is a large regional public (17,743 students) in Huntsville, TX, with 90.3% admission and SAT mid-ranges of 450-550 Math and 480-570 Reading. In-state tuition is $9,228 and net price is $16,404. The program-level data spans a wide range: Registered Nursing (195 graduates, B+ grade, $82,463 year-one) and Construction Engineering Technology (70 graduates, B+, $72,116 year-one) are genuine standouts. Criminal Justice (888 graduates - the largest program - C grade, $37,792 year-one) dominates the enrollment profile and substantially shapes the institutional median. Dance (F-grade, DTR 1.354), Drama/Theatre (F-grade, DTR 1.018), Sociology (F-grade), and Entrepreneurship (F-grade) all show debt exceeding first-year earnings. The 41.3% Pell grant rate reflects broad lower-income access at a genuinely affordable Texas public.
Sam Houston State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,228/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,068/yr |
| Average net price | $16,404/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $65,616 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,211 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,983 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $233 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 54.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 17,743 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $9,228/year ($19,068/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $16,404/year, or roughly $65,616 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $12,474/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,101/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,983, which works out to about $233 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,300) and comes to 0.56, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,474 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,389 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,540 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,366 |
| $110,001+ | $24,101 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $12,474 per year at SHSU. Over four years, roughly $49,900. Against $39,300 average earnings and a 10.7-year payback, the financial case is modest at the institutional median but strong for nursing and construction engineering students. The 54.8% completion rate is the primary risk for lower-income students who have less financial buffer for non-completion.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $15,540; the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $21,366. The aid taper is significant in the upper-middle bracket. At $21,000 per year, SHSU remains affordable by Texas regional standards. Middle-income families targeting nursing, construction engineering, or accounting at this price are making financially defensible decisions.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110,000 pay $24,101 per year. At $24k for a school with a 54.8% completion rate and $39,300 average earnings, program selection is essential. Nursing and construction engineering students at this price have strong returns; most social science and arts programs do not clear the bar at any price point given the Scorecard data.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Sam Houston State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $51,748 | C |
| Psychology | $47,659 | D |
| Business Administration and Management | $63,837 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $50,125 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $91,697 | B+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $57,341 | D |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $49,134 | D |
| Biology | $53,165 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $72,388 | C+ |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $55,155 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (195 graduates) earns $82,463 year-one and $91,697 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.321 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $26,504. Strong outcomes in Texas healthcare.
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
Construction Engineering Technology (70 graduates) earns $72,116 year-one and $93,904 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.347 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $25,000. Texas construction activity - driven by energy, infrastructure, and population growth - creates strong demand for construction engineers. The B+ grade reflects excellent outcomes at public school pricing.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice (888 graduates - SHSU's largest program by a wide margin) earns $37,792 year-one and $51,748 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.614 (ROI grade C). Median debt of $23,218. The C grade is the honest assessment: criminal justice careers in law enforcement, corrections, and private security pay moderately in Texas. Students who advance into federal law enforcement, forensics, or administration achieve better outcomes.
Accounting
Accounting (74 graduates) earns $52,772 year-one and $72,059 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.422 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $22,291 is relatively low. B grade reflects solid outcomes for a regional Texas public - Houston accounting market is robust and SHSU graduates access it effectively. The low median debt helps the grade relative to programs with similar earnings.
Psychology
Psychology (263 graduates) earns $31,353 year-one and $47,659 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.765 (ROI grade D). Median debt of $24,000 against $31k starting is strained. The D-grade reflects the credential gap: most clinical and counseling tracks require graduate degrees. Students interested in psychology at SHSU should plan for the full cost of additional credentials when evaluating the financial case.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 67.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 72.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 64.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 70.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Sam Houston State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 90.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 450-550 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 480-570 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 17-24 |
| Enrollment | 17,743 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 41.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,196 |
SHSU admits 90.3% of applicants - effectively open access. SAT 450-550 Math, 480-570 Reading, ACT 17-24 describes a broad academic preparation range. The 54.8% completion rate is the central financial risk: students who enroll without a clear program path face meaningful non-completion exposure.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
SHSU's 58 score reflects the drag of the large criminal justice enrollment on the institutional median.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Houston State University (this school) | 58 | $16,404 | $54,211 |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | 59 | $15,014 | $54,990 |
| Appalachian State University | 58 | $16,836 | $51,836 |
| Old Dominion University | 53 | $14,638 | $54,914 |
| Angelo State University | 49 | $15,091 | $50,116 |
| Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi | 48 | $15,225 | $51,865 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Sam Houston State University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
SHSU admits 90.3% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 450-550 Math and 480-570 Reading, ACT 17-24. Criminal Justice is the signature program - SHSU has a national reputation in criminal justice education driven by its Sam Houston Institute of Contemporary Corrections. The 41.3% Pell rate reflects meaningful lower-income access. Students targeting nursing, construction engineering, or business in programs with strong regional placement find better value here than the institutional median implies.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Sam Houston State University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $16,404 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $54,211 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
Median debt of $21,983 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Sam Houston State University: Common Questions
Is Sam Houston State University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Sam Houston State University scores 58/100 on our ROI scale. At $16,404 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $54,211 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Sam Houston State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $16,404 a year, or roughly $65,616 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Sam Houston State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $54,211 ten years after enrolling, roughly $12,411 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Sam Houston State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 10.7 years for Sam Houston State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Sam Houston State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,983, against average earnings of $39,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Sam Houston State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 54.8%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.