Sam Houston State University Acceptance Rate
Huntsville, Texas · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 17,582
- Admitted
- 15,014
- Yield
- 24%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Sam Houston State University's acceptance rate has risen from 73.7% in 2014–15 to 85.4% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 9,175 to 17,582 (+92%) over that period.
Its 85.4% rate makes Sam Houston State University more selective than about 31% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 65 tracked Texas schools, it is more selective than about 42%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (87% for women vs 82.3% for men, a 4.7-point gap). Sam Houston State University has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 24% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 9,175 | 6,759 | 73.7% | 2,542 |
| 2015–16 | 9,242 | 6,720 | 72.7% | 2,637 |
| 2016–17 | 12,556 | 9,034 | 71.9% | 2,758 |
| 2017–18 | 12,383 | 9,212 | 74.4% | 2,873 |
| 2018–19 | 11,819 | 9,283 | 78.5% | 2,883 |
| 2019–20 | 11,569 | 9,649 | 83.4% | 2,927 |
| 2020–21 | 12,025 | 11,123 | 92.5% | 2,843 |
| 2021–22 | 11,556 | 11,161 | 96.6% | 2,908 |
| 2022–23 | 16,316 | 13,809 | 84.6% | 3,394 |
| 2023–24 | 17,582 | 15,014 | 85.4% | 3,601 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 11,488 | 10,000 | 87% |
| Men | 6,094 | 5,014 | 82.3% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 480–580 | 48% |
| SAT Math | 460–560 | |
| ACT Composite | 19–25 | 7% |
How Sam Houston State compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Sam Houston State University's acceptance rate?
Sam Houston State University's acceptance rate is 85.4% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (15,014 admitted of 17,582 applicants).
Is Sam Houston State University test optional?
Sam Houston State University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Sam Houston State University?
Sam Houston State University received 17,582 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 15,014.
What SAT score do you need for Sam Houston State University?
Admitted students at Sam Houston State University typically scored 480–580 on SAT Reading/Writing and 460–560 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Sam Houston State University getting harder to get into?
Sam Houston State University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 73.7% in 2014–15 to 85.4% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.shsu.edu/.