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Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas

21,480 Students on Campus
Huntsville Location
47,000 Metro Population
21,480 Students on Campus
Huntsville Location
47,000 Metro Population

About This Campus

SHSU was established in 1879 and is one of the oldest institutions in Texas - we are rich in history and tradition. Today SHSU has over 20,000 students across over 80 undergraduate, over 60 masters, and 10 doctoral degree programs in 8 colleges. Even though SHSU’s student population has grown quickly we still have a small campus mentality where we want each student to been seen and feel at home. Sam Houston State University’s motto is “The Measure of a Life is its Service” and this is something that the whole campus takes to heart, offering volunteer opportunities as well as course projects in the local community. We are a Community Engaged University. The 300-acre campus is a good representation of the surrounding nature with lots of trees and green space. Notable programs are education, criminal justice, music, math, psychology, supply chain management, and victim studies. Sam Houston State has more than 250 student organizations and club sports offering something for all students.

90+ undergraduate degrees offered across eight colleges, serving over 21,000 students.

Academic support includes the Academic Success Center, SAM Center advising, the Career Success Center, Student Money Management, and more!

The SHSU community is comprised of approximately 50% first-generation students and is an HSI campus.

Helpful Information

  • Residence Life: Information on on-campus housing options, room assignments in our halls and on-campus apartments, and the folks who manage the halls, and events. The SHSU NSE Coordinator STRONGLY suggests you live in our on-campus housing. Our halls have a lot of benefits and activities, excellent staffing & security. Click here for information on off-campus housing.

Location Information

The campus is located in Huntsville and is 70 miles north of Houston. With over 40,000 inhabitants, Huntsville has that small-town charm with access to anything you could need. The city’s historic downtown provides boutique stores, a variety of food, and big annual events. Located in the green Piney Woods of east Texas, Huntsville has many outdoor activities to offer with easy access to surrounding Sam Houston National Forest, Huntsville State Park, and many lakes.

Academics

REGISTRATION:
TERM DATES:

Fall Start Date: 08/19/2026 - Fall End Date: 12/10/2026

Spring Start Date: 01/12/2026 - Spring End Date: 05/07/2026

CLOSED PROGRAMS:

Nursing

RESTRICTED/LIMITED PROGRAMS:

Biology, Dance, Music, Music Therapy, Theatre, Musial Theatre, Art, Studio Art, Animation, Film and TV Production, Photography, Early Childhood Education, Education, Elementary Education, Junior High/Middle School Education, Secondary Education, Special Education.

NOTABLE ACADEMICS PROGRAMS:
  • Business — Accredited by the AACSB, which places COBA in the top 6% of Business Colleges worldwide that receive such accreditation.
  • Criminal Justice — Ranked #1 in Texas, #3 in the U.S.
  • Education — NCATE accredited, oldest education program in Texas.
  • Engineering Technology — ABET accredited, specializations available (design, mechanical, electrical, etc.).
  • Forensic Chemistry — As the first B.S. in Forensic Chemistry in Texas, SHSU’s program uniquely prepares students in chemical analysis and legal protocols to bridge science and justice.
UNIQUE ACADEMICS PROGRAMS:
  • Bilingual Health Care Studies — Combined study of health care principles and foreign language.
  • Cybersecurity — Focuses specifically on digital forensics, cryptography, malware analysis, and cyber warfare, preparing students to detect, prevent, and respond to real-world threats.
  • Homeland Security Studies — Includes areas such as emergency management, counterterrorism, risk assessments, critical infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, border security, risk and crisis communications, and pandemic management.
  • Human Performance and Wellness Management — Serves as excellent preparation for graduate studies in fields such as Occupational Therapy, Kinesiology, or Sport and Human Performance.
  • Victim Studies — Blends liberal arts, criminal justice, psychology, and language to train students in trauma-informed advocacy, policy, intervention, and research.
OPTIONS:

Honors Access: Yes

UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS OPEN TO NSE STUDENTS:

Conditions

GPA AND OTHER ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS:
EXCHANGE PREFERENCES:
  • Full Year Exchange: Accepted
  • Single Term Exchange: Accepted
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS (Visa Students):
  • Receive from Canada: Will Accept Home Pay
  • Does your campus accept International Students (those already in the U.S. on a student visa)?Home
CANADIAN EXCHANGE:
Learn More
  • Accept international students studying in Canada on a visa? - No
  • Accept Canadian students on J1 visa or F1 visa? - J1 Visa

Tuition/Finance

Figures per Semester are current as of 12/18/2025
TUITION:
  • Campus Budget
  • Fees are subject to change without notice
  • Home Tuition Payment: Available
  • Away Tuition Payment: Not Available
MAXIMUM CREDIT HOURS PER SEMESTER:
  • Home Payment: 15
MISCELLANEOUS FEES:
Purpose
Amount
Period
Plan
Status
Housing Fee
$200
Year
Home
Mandatory
Textbook Rental
$0
Year
Home
Mandatory
Parking Fee
$216
Year
Home
Optional

Canadian students may incur additional fees relating to their student visa and services provided by the International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) office.

Financial Aid for NSE Students. Regardless of Payment Plan, financial aid is awarded by and disbursed from your home campus.

Room/Meals

Figures per Semester are current as of 12/18/2025
ON-CAMPUS HOUSING PER SEMESER:
  • Is on-campus housing available? Yes
  • Is on-campus living required? No
  • Number of reserved housing spaces: 0
  • Average Room Cost (per term): $4500
  • On-Campus Housing
Off-CAMPUS HOUSING:
NOTES ABOUT ON-CAMPUS HOUSING:

All new students must submit verification of Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination to the Student Health Center prior to selecting a room. Residence Life cannot accept Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination records.

NOTES ABOUT OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING:

The Off Campus Living division of Residence Life is here to offer information, resources, events, and programs for those Bearkats looking for housing outside of campus. Upperclassmen are allowed to live on or off campus.

MEAL PLANS:
  • Are meal plans available on campus? Yes
  • Is a meal plan purchase required for on-campus, non-apartment residence halls? Yes
  • Average Meal Plan Cost (per term): $0
  • Campus Meal Plans
NOTES ABOUT MEAL PLANS:

See all meal plans here: https://shsu.mydininghub.com/en/meal-plans/meal-plan-options

Fees are subject to change without notice.

Chance of Acceptance

Priority Placements for Academic Year 26/27

If this is your top choice campus...

Home Tuition Payment Plan

Open

This campus usually accepts all eligible applicants. Apply and start packing your bags!

Away Tuition Payment Plan

N/A

This campus is not accepting students on this tuition payment plan.

If this is your alternate choice campus...

Home Tuition Payment Plan

Excellent

This campus accepts most (75%+) applicants. You may want to consider adding alternate choice campuses marked as OPEN or EXCELLENT to ensure placement.

Away Tuition Payment Plan

N/A

This campus is not accepting students on this tuition payment plan.

Resources

CAMPUS SOCIAL MEDIA: