- Acceptance rate: 90% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 480–570 reading and writing, 450–550 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 17–24 composite
- Average net price: $14,556 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
Don't know your GPA? Check your GPA
Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Sam Houston State University reported: an acceptance rate of 90% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 17–24.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Sam Houston State University reviews each application.
Sam Houston State University GPA requirements
Sam Houston State University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Sam Houston State University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Sam Houston State University acceptance rate
Sam Houston State University admitted 15,506 of 17,179 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 90%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Sam Houston State University is a public 4-year university in Huntsville, Texas, with 17,787 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Sam Houston State University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 480 | 530 | 570 |
| SAT Math | 450 | 510 | 550 |
| ACT Composite | 17 | 20 | 24 |
| ACT English | 18 | 22 | 26 |
| ACT Math | 16 | 18 | 22 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1041 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Sam Houston State University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Considered if submitted |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Sam Houston State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $14,556 a year at Sam Houston State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have a chance at Sam Houston State University with a 3.0 GPA?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Sam Houston State University admitted 90% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
What are Sam Houston State University's SAT and ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of Sam Houston State University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 480–570 in reading and writing and 450–550 in math; ACT composite 17–24, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
What GPA do you need to get into Sam Houston State University?
Sam Houston State University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Is Sam Houston State University hard to get into?
Not for most prepared students: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Sam Houston State University admitted 90% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
Is Sam Houston State University test optional?
Yes. Sam Houston State University considers SAT or ACT scores if you send them, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 52% sent SAT scores and 6% sent ACT scores.
How many applicants get into Sam Houston State University?
Sam Houston State University's acceptance rate was 90% for fall 2024: it admitted 15,506 of 17,179 first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
How much does GPA matter at Sam Houston State University?
A lot: Sam Houston State University requires high school GPA and high school record. It considers high school class rank, college preparatory program, essay or personal statement, test scores and work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider recommendations, other tests, demonstration of competencies and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does Sam Houston State University look at legacy status?
No. Sam Houston State University doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What do students pay at Sam Houston State University after grants?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $14,556 a year at Sam Houston State University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does Sam Houston State University give credit for AP exams?
Yes. Sam Houston State University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Before you apply, check Sam Houston State University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Sam Houston State UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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