Sam Houston State University is a multi-purpose state university that exists to meet the needs of a civilized community by providing to the community educational opportunities and resources of the highest quality. The university has evolved into a federation of colleges and programs which provides a climate of intellectual freedom with academic programs to enable its students to become informed, thoughtful, and productive citizens with the skills necessary to evaluate issues critically and to appreciate the cultural and aesthetic values of life.
< CollapseSam Houston State University, (known as SHSU and Sam, for short) founded in 1879, is a public university located in Huntsville, Texas. It is one of the oldest purpose-built institutions for the instruction of teachers west of the Mississippi River and the first such institution of its type in the State of Texas and the southwestern United States. It is named for one of Texas' founding fathers, Sam Houston, who made his home in the city. The university is part of the Texas State University System and is a comprehensive, doctoral granting university enrolling approximately 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
Created by legislation signed by Governor Oran M. Roberts on April 21, 1879, Sam Houston Normal Institute's dedicated goal was to train teachers for the public schools of Texas—the first of its kind in the southwestern United States. On October 10 of the same year, the first class of 110 students and four faculty commenced instruction on the site of what had once been the campus of Austin College.
When the university first opened, students received a certification to teach in the state's elementary and secondary schools, but after 1919, the university began to award bachelor's degrees. In 1923, the school was renamed the Sam Houston State Teachers College. In 1936, the school awarded its first post-baccalaureate degree. In 1965, the school was renamed, again, to Sam Houston State College, and, finally, to Sam Houston State University in 1969.
The university celebrated its 125th year in 2004.
In 2007, a proposal was briefly considered to change the school's name to Texas State University - Sam Houston (intending to associate the campus more with the Texas State University System of which it is a member). However, In April, 2007, Texas House Bill 1418 passed without objection in the Texas Legislature; the bill prevents the Texas State University System’s board of regents from changing SHSU’s name.
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| Percent of Students International: | 1% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 26% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | Yes |
| Member of: | NAA, NCAA |
| Sports Include: |
Football (Southland Conference) Basketball (Southland Conference) Baseball (Southland Conference) Track (Southland Conference) |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | In-State | Out-of-State | |
Published Tuition and Fees: |
$ 4,592 | $ 12,872 | |
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 2,640 | $ 9,264 | |
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 1,182 | $ 1,182 | |
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 2,843 | 29% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 1,812 | 32% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 2,451 | 15% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 3,589 | 49% | |
Any Aid: |
70% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 75% (Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 62% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 440, Math: 450 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 550, Math: 560 |
| ACT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting ACT Scores: | 36% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Composite: 18, Verbal: 16, Math: 17 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Composite: 22, Verbal: 22, Math: 23 |
| Application Fee: | $ 35.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Not Required |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Recommended |
| High School GPA: | Not Required |
| High School Rank: | Required |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Not Required |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Required |
