POINTS OF PRIDE

Bearkats Put in the Work

From nationally ranked programs and life-changing educational access to research and innovation that serve Texas, Sam Houston State University continues to earn recognition for the work we do and the outcomes we deliver.

National Recognition

• No. 9 in Texas. SHSU ranked No. 231 nationally and ninth among Texas universities in The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 Best Colleges rankings, ahead of every other Texas State University System institution. (2026)
• Top 5% for social mobility. U.S. News & World Report ranked SHSU No. 52 nationally for advancing educational opportunity and supporting the success of Pell Grant recipients. (2026)
• Among the nation’s leading universities. SHSU placed in the top 15% of universities nationwide and No. 10 in Texas among public, 4-year institutions in the latest U.S. News rankings. (2026)
• Recognized among America’s best colleges. Money named SHSU one of the Best Colleges in America, awarding the university 3.5 out of five stars. (2025)
• A national leader in online education. SHSU climbed 44 positions to No. 58 in Newsweek’s America’s Top Online Colleges rankings. (2025)

Top-Ranked Academic Programs

• No. 3 in the nation for Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs for Veterans. (2026)
• No. 5 in the nation for Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs. (2026)
• No. 14 in the nation for Best Online Master’s in Education Programs for Veterans. (2026)
• No. 15 in the nation for Best Online Master’s in Computer Information Technology Programs for Veterans. (2026)
• Eight additional SHSU online programs ranked among the nation’s top 120, including programs in business, education and information technology. (2026)
• U.S. News ranked SHSU No. 158 among Best Education Schools, No. 175 among Best Management Master’s Programs and Tier 4 among Best Medical Schools for Research. (2026)

Expanding Opportunity

• SHSU expanded the Bearkat Promise, raising the family income eligibility threshold from $40,000 to $100,000 beginning fall 2026. The program covers mandatory tuition and fees for eligible incoming freshmen and transfer students. (2026)
• The university is expanding nursing education space and instructional capacity to support phased enrollment growth toward a capacity of 720 students.
• SHSU received provisional accreditation for its new Master of Physician Assistant Studies program and welcomed an inaugural cohort of 40 students in fall 2026.
• A new partnership with Lamar Institute of Technology allows undergraduate students to co-enroll at both institutions, creating another accessible pathway to a four-year degree.
• SHSU launched an online, competency-based Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Criminal Justice, allowing students to progress by demonstrating mastery through applied learning.

Excellence in Healthcare

• SHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine holds the highest COMLEX Level 1 first-time pass rate in the nation.
• SHSU-COM is the only new osteopathic medical school to earn Accreditation with Exceptional Outcomes during its initial accreditation cycle.
• Approximately 66% of SHSU-COM graduates matched into Texas residency programs, with more than half entering primary care.
• SHSU opened its Health Professions Building in Conroe to support programs in athletic training, dietetics, physician assistant studies and physical therapy.

Innovation and Service

• SHSU earned the 2026 Blackboard Catalyst Award for Adoption and Engagement, an international honor recognizing innovative, student-centered uses of learning technology. (2026)
• The Carnegie Foundation reaffirmed SHSU’s Community Engagement Classification, continuing a national distinction the university has held since 2010. (2026)
• SHSU received a $1 million Texas Workforce Commission award to develop a statewide center supporting digital literacy, distance education and adult learning. (2026)
• The university secured $2.5 million in federal funding to expand its Security Operations Center into a regional hub for cybersecurity education, workforce development and cyber defense.
• SHSU is federally designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and classified as a Doctoral University–High Research Activity institution.

Celebrating Bearkat Excellence

• Professor C. Renee James was selected as one of only 10 2026 Piper Professors in Texas, recognizing her outstanding teaching and commitment to student success. (2026)
• SHSU Giving Day set new records with more than $564,000 raised through 870 gifts supporting students, scholarships, academic programs and athletics. (2026)
• Student involvement grew to 288 recognized organizations, a 9% increase, while fraternity and sorority participation surpassed 1,000 students for the first time in six years.