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Sam Houston is a Great Name in Texas Education
- Founded in 1879 and named after Texas' greatest hero, General Sam Houston
- Enrollment of approximately 17,618 (Fall 2011)
- Total annual 2010 budget of $250 million (25% comes from The State of Texas)
- Classified as a “Doctoral Research University” by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education, placing SHSU in top 7% of all U.S. colleges & universities
- 79 undergraduate degree programs, 54 masters' programs, and 5 doctoral programs
- 72% of the faculty members hold doctoral or terminal degrees
- Recognized by Princeton Review as one of the “Best in the West” universities
- One of Princeton Review’s and PC Magazine's “Most Wired” colleges in the nation
- Wall Street Journal recognized SHSU funded research with the “Innovative Technology” award
- Criminal Justice College ranked in U.S. Top 5, Journal of Criminal Justice
- Dance program ranked in Top 25 U.S. programs, Dance Spectrum Magazine
- Number One ranked Athletic Dance team, National Dance Association
- Top 4 ranked Theatre program, Kennedy Center Competition
- Musical Theater ranked in Top 10, Broadway Theater Project
- Undergraduate Math program ranked in U.S. Top 8, Mathematical Association of America
- Only accredited bachelor's degree program in the U.S. for Banking and Financial Institutions
- Masters in Forensic Science, 1 of 8 fully accredited in U.S.
- Master's program in History, 14th largest after Yale
- PhD in Clinical Psychology with Forensic emphasis, 1 of 7 accredited in U.S.
- Only school in Texas offering a degree in PGA Golf Management, 1 of 20 in U.S.
At Sam, You can Dream and Succeed
- Student SAT/ACT test scores above national and state averages
- Typical tuition and fees for full-time undergraduate student is approximately $2,697
- Faculty to student ratio of 1:19 and average class size of 31 students
- A diverse student body representing 60 countries
- 69% of students receive some form of financial aid
- Student-operated cable television station and radio station
- State-of-the-art 100,000 sq. ft. Performing Arts Center
- Student-published newspaper
- NCAA Division I athletic program
- Leading intercollegiate rodeo program
When You Come Here, You Can Feel it!
- USA Today's Top 50 in the U.S. for “commitment to civic engagement and global awareness”
- Ranked 10th among America's “Safest Colleges,” on the Daily Beast news website
- Named by U.S. News & World Report as a university “Growing Fast, Staying Friendly”
- Beautiful 316-acre main campus with over $250 million in new and renovated facilities
- Two agricultural complexes including 1,600 acre teaching & research farm and rodeo arena
- More than 200 student organizations
- Recreational sports program with outdoor and indoor facilities
- Planetarium and observatory
- University Raven Nest Golf Course
- 32 residence halls and apartments
Downloadable PDF of this information.
For more than 130 years, Sam Houston State University has been preparing students for meaningful lives of achievement. Its motto, “The measure of a Life is its Service,” echoes across SHSU’s five colleges and beyond campus through student research, creative endeavors, service learning, volunteering and more.
Bearkat Points of Pride
- A 316-acre main campus in Huntsville, Texas, that features more than $250 million in new and renovated facilities
- Distinctive programs, such as the only accredited bachelor’s degree program in the U.S. for Banking and Financial Institutions, as well as the state’s only degree in PGA Golf Management
- Faculty members who make themselves available not only as student mentors, but also as experts in their fields to assist the working media with stories of interest and importance to the public
- One of The Princeton Review’s and PC Magazine’s “Most Wired” colleges in the nation for its use of high technology and its accessibility to information
- Ranking 10th among America’s “safest colleges” according to the Daily Beast, a New York-based news Web site
- Princeton Review: “Best in the West”
- U.S. News & World Report: “Growing Fast, Staying Friendly”
- USA Today: Top 50 in the US for “commitment to civic engagement and global awareness on campus”
Named for Sam Houston, Texas’ greatest hero, SHSU continually strives to honor its historical roots through academic excellence that includes exceptional teaching from faculty members who care as much about their students’ success as they do about furthering the knowledge of their fields.
Academic Offerings
SHSU is a selective institution that offers 79 bachelor's degree programs, 54 master’s programs and five doctoral programs, including nationally recognized programs in Business, Fine Arts, Education, Mathematics and Criminal Justice. SHSU is classified as a “Doctoral Research University” by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.
The SHSU Community
This is a university that thinks big but feels small. With a student population of 17,618, SHSU prides itself with creating a close community. Current students and alumni alike attest to the warm, supportive environment found all over the SHSU campus. Faculty members are more than professors—they are mentors, advisors, informal tutors and personal links to great career connections.
