Sam Houston State University College Portrait
Sam Houston State University1806 Avenue J Huntsville, TX 77340
1-866-294-1828
Sam Houston State University
"The Measure of a Life is its Service."
Sam Houston State University is one of the most innovative and diverse universities in Texas. Founded in 1879 as the first teacher-training school in the Southwest, it now has more than 17,000 students and 138 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Admission standards are being increased with the SAT entrance score average of SHSU students rising and now standing above the national average and well above the Texas state average. Retention rates are also increasing due, in large part, to counseling efforts at the SAM Center, which was named one of the top six such programs in the United States. Located in a hills, lakes, and forests region of East Texas 70 miles north of Houston, with its namesake tied to Texas hero Sam Houston, and more than a century and a quarter of educational service to the state and nation, Sam Houston State University is truly, "A Great Name in Texas Education."
Living in the Bearkat Community
About the Bearkat Community
Located in the heart of the Piney Woods between Houston and Dallas, the home of Sam Houston State University is Huntsville, TX (2010 pop. 38,500). Currently in the middle of a $250 million dollar capital expansion program, the SHSU campus blends state of the art housing facilities, labs, and classrooms with historic buildings, terraced outdoor meeting spaces and tastefully designed common areas. Numerous programs at the university are available to enrich the academic and social lives of more than 17,000 students. The award-winning Student Advising and Mentoring (SAM) Center provides a variety of proactively supportive programs and services to promote academic success. In addition, numerous student organizations are active on campus, including a wide assortment of fraternities, sororities, clubs, academic, and social organizations. The Office of Student Activities sponsors Welcome Week, Homecoming and numerous concerts, tailgate parties, and other events throughout the year. Multicultural Student Services and the Office of International Programs provide support services for international students and offer numerous programs for the entire campus to promote cultural awareness and diversity.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2011?
| Total Students | 17,527 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 14,921 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 8,489 | 57% |
| Men | 6,432 | 43% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 58 | <1% |
| Asian | 173 | 1% |
| African American / Black | 2,442 | 16% |
| Hispanic | 2,510 | 17% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 12 | <1% |
| White | 9,146 | 61% |
| Two or More Races | 143 | 1% |
| International | 164 | 1% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 273 | 2% |
| Where do SHSU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Texas | 98% |
| Other US States & Territories | 1% |
| Other Countries | 1% |
| How old are SHSU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 22 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 16% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2011)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 19 - 23 | |
| Math | 18 - 24 | 460 - 560 |
| English | 17 - 23 | |
| Critical Reading | 440 - 540 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top of graduating class Data Not Available | ||
| Average High School GPA Data Not Available | ||
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2011-12 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $20,546.00
The cost to attend Sam Houston State University varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 51% of 2011-12 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $6,286.00. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 51% of 2011-12 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,221.00. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
SHSU Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 22 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 55% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 86% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 601 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 44% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 16% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 81% |
Campus-based Housing
82% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
21% of all undergraduates live on campus
Campus Safety
At Sam Houston State University,
The University Police Department employs 23 commissioned and licensed Peace Officers, which include the Director, Assistant Director, one Patrol Captain, three Police Supervisors, one detective, and sixteen Patrol Officers. The University Police Department provides police services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (including holidays). Additionally, our department provides a number of services which consist of escorting students during the evening and night time hours; vehicle jump starts; and crime prevention/awareness programs.
The Department of Public Safety Services embraces the University's philosophy that stresses the holistic approach in our students' growth in life. Therefore, our mission is to provide a safe environment on campus that is conducive to foster their successful development and education. The Department of Public Safety Services' primary objective is to protect all persons within its jurisdiction, to ensure that all are as free from criminal attack as possible, secured in their properties, which will permit them to develop life skills within a safe and peaceful academic environment.
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Doctoral/Research Universities
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily nonresidential
- Enrollment Profile
- Very high undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Professions plus arts & sciences, some graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Doctoral, professional dominant
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
Student Activities and Involvement at SHSU
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom, to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 91.0% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 57.0% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 29.0% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 83.0% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 19.0% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 41.0% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 55.0% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 6.0% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 93.0% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 97.0% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 72.0% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 66.0% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 96.0% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 54.0% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 78.0% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 98.0% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 70.0% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 67.0% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 85.0% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 61.0% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 86.0% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 88.0% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 80.0% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at Sam Houston State University in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 3,131 |
| Master's | 772 |
| Doctoral | 42 |
| Total | 3,945 |
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2010-11 | |
|---|---|
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies | 15% |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 11% |
| Business/Commerce, General | 9% |
| Psychology, General | 6% |
| Library and Information Science | 5% |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 88% four-year success and progress rate means that 88% of students starting in Fall 2005 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2005 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 2,165 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 1,521 Full-Time Transfer Students
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2010 that returned for their second year: 73%
Student Learning at Sam Houston State University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
Results from the ETS Proficiency Profile (formerly MAPP)
The ETS Proficiency Profile (formerly MAPP) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, and written communication and reports separate scores on critical thinking and written communication.
Critical Thinking Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in critical thinking skills is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 112
Senior Score: 114
ETS score range: 100 to 130
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 22
Senior Score: 22
Average SAT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1042
Senior Score: 1068
Written Communication Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in written communication skills is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 115
Senior Score: 116
ETS score range: 100 to 130
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 22
Senior Score: 22
Average SAT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1042
Senior Score: 1068