Sam Houston State University is a public four-year institution based in Huntsville, Texas. Its campus is in a town setting. Fall 2024 enrollment was 21,039, made up of 17,787 undergraduates and 3,252 graduate students. It holds the Carnegie R2 designation for high research activity. It is part of Texas State University System.
Sam Houston State University offers certificates, associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, doctoral degrees, and professional doctorates across 116 programs. Its largest programs by number of graduates are Criminal Justice/Safety Studies, Psychology, General, and Teacher Education, Multiple Levels. It awarded 5,116 degrees and certificates in 2024-25. 38 of its programs can be completed entirely online.
73% of full-time first-year students return for a second year. The student-to-faculty ratio is 19 to 1.
Mission
Sam Houston State University is a student-centered, community engaged institution whose mission is to offer accessible, quality higher education. The university offers a variety of innovative and flexible degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels focused on career readiness, personal and professional development, and service. SHSU provides integrated academic and student success services designed to support traditional and non-traditional students from diverse backgrounds.
Key figures
21,039
Students enrolled
73%
First-year retention
5,116
Degrees and certificates awarded, 2024-25
116
Programs and majors
19:1
Student-to-faculty ratio
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Delivery modes
CampusOnlineHybrid
Program levels
CertificateAssociateBachelorMasterPhDProfessional
Programs and majors offered 116
Graduate counts are degrees and certificates awarded in each program between July 2024 and June 2025. Largest fields are listed first.
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement and Firefighting 7
Retention is for students who started in fall 2023 and returned in fall 2024.
First-year retention, full-time students
73%
First-year retention, part-time students
61%
Student-to-faculty ratio
19:1
Degrees and certificates awarded
Awards conferred between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Bachelor's degrees
4,025
Associate degrees
26
Master's degrees
865
Doctoral degrees (research)
64
Professional doctorates
98
Postbaccalaureate certificates
38
Enrollment
Students, fall 2024
21,039
Undergraduates, fall 2024
17,787
Graduate students, fall 2024
3,252
Full-time, fall 2024
77%
Students over the full 2024-25 year
23,409
Undergraduates, 2024-25
19,433
Graduate students, 2024-25
3,976
Full-time, 2024-25
74%
Size category
20,000 students or more
Student body
Share of all students enrolled during 2024-25. Small groups can round to zero and are not listed.
Women
63%
Men
37%
White
45%
Hispanic or Latino
28%
Black or African American
17%
Asian
3%
Two or more races
3%
American Indian or Alaska Native
1%
International (U.S. nonresident)
1%
Race or ethnicity unknown
2%
Online and flexible learning
Distance education in 2024-25.
Programs that can be completed fully online
38
Programs with a fully online option
4
Online undergraduate programs
Yes
Online graduate programs
Yes
Students studying fully online
26%
Students taking some online courses
42%
Weekend or evening classes
Yes
Campus and services
Setting
Town
Academic calendar
Semester
Part of
Texas State University System
Carnegie classification
Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Research designation
Research 2: High Spending and Doctorate Production
Athletic association
NCAA
Athletic conference
Conference USA
President
Dr. Alisa White
Services and opportunities
Study abroad, ROTC, Undergraduate research, Teacher certification, Academic and career counseling, Student employment services, Job placement for graduates, Accepts AP credit, Credit for life experience
For veterans and service members
Credit for military training, Dedicated veterans contact