Public

Large

Conference USA

Sam Houston State University SAT Scores, ACT Scores, Acceptance Rate, and Admissions Requirements

SAT Range940 to 1120

ACT Range17 to 24

Average GPAN/A

Acceptance Rate90.3%

Sam Houston State admits most applicants, but test-optional does not mean scores are irrelevant here: 92% of students submitted SAT scores. Aim for an SAT near or above 1120, the top of the middle range, so your academic profile sits on the stronger side of an accessible admissions process.

Data on this page is sourced from our college data partners and was last updated on July 9, 2026.

Sam Houston State University facts and stats

Quick Facts

Sam Houston State University enrolls about 17,787 undergraduates in a small-town campus setting. Sam Houston State has a 73% freshman retention rate, which is slightly above the national average of roughly 70%. Its 6-year graduation rate is 55%. The student-to-faculty ratio is 21:1.

Location

Huntsville, TX

Undergrad Enrollment17,787

Freshman Retention73%

SettingSmall town

Student to Faculty Ratio21:1

Graduation Rate55%

Test PolicyTest-optional

How do your scores compare at Sam Houston State?

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Key Sam Houston State University application dates

Key dates

Application deadlines

Regular Decision

August 1

Early Action

Not offered

Early Decision

Not offered

Priority Deadline

—

Financial aid deadlines

Financial Aid Priority

March 15

Test dates

SAT test dates

August 22, 2026

Registration deadline: August 7, 2026

September 12, 2026

Registration deadline: August 28, 2026

October 3, 2026

Registration deadline: September 18, 2026

ACT test dates

September 19, 2026

Registration deadline: August 14, 2026

October 17, 2026

Registration deadline: September 11, 2026

December 12, 2026

Registration deadline: November 6, 2026

Take tests early for the best outcomes

If you choose to submit SAT or ACT scores to test-optional Sam Houston State, plan to take your first test by the spring of junior year so you can use summer for a superscore-focused retake. Because the Regular Decision deadline is August 1, no fall retake is likely to arrive in time for Sam Houston State.

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What you'll actually pay

At Sam Houston State, a public Conference USA university, in-state tuition is $7,320 and out-of-state tuition is $19,620. About 61% of students receive aid, and the FAFSA priority deadline is March 15.

In-State Tuition$7,320

Out-of-State Tuition$19,620

Room and Board$11,984

Average Merit Award$3,781

Application Fee$50

Students on Aid61%

Average Aid Package$13,393

Average Debt at Grad$27,677

At Sam Houston State University, out-of-state tuition is $19,620, while in-state tuition is $7,320, with room and board adding about $11,984. Financial aid is common, with 61% of students receiving aid and an average aid package of $13,393. Merit awards average $3,781, which can help reduce the billed cost for eligible students. Graduates leave with an average debt of $27,677.