Sam Houston State University (SHSU) vs Kennesaw State

Sam Houston State University and Kennesaw State University, both esteemed public universities, offer distinct educational experiences. Sam Houston, nestled in Huntsville, Texas, boasts a lower acceptance rate, indicating a more selective admissions process. Kennesaw, located in Kennesaw, Georgia, offers a more open admissions policy. While Sam Houston's student body is predominantly White, Kennesaw's student population is more diverse, reflecting the vibrant tapestry of its surrounding community. Both universities excel in different academic areas; Sam Houston is renowned for its criminal justice and nursing programs, while Kennesaw shines in business and engineering. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more about these universities' acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, graduation rates, and other crucial factors that will help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey.
Kennesaw State University logo

Kennesaw State University

Sam Houston State University logo

Sam Houston State University

Overview

Location Kennesaw, Georgia Huntsville, Texas
Campus setting Suburb: Large Town: Distant
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 74.0% 73.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 81.6% 96.6%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
SAT range 1050 - 1250 950 - 1120
ACT range 20 - 26 18 - 23
Students submitting SAT score 25.0% 57.0%
Students submitting ACT score 16.0% 16.0%
Total number of applicants 20,806 11,556
Total number of admissions given out 16,975 11,161
Admitted students who chose to enroll 8,628 2,908
Yield rate 50.8% 26.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $27,253

Out of state: $38,507
In state: $24,612

Out of state: $34,404
Average net price $18,245 $14,287
Tuition
In state: $4,450

Out of state: $15,704
In state: $5,856

Out of state: $15,648
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,200

Meal plan: $5,747
Room/dormitory: $5,918

Meal plan: $4,650
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

88.0%
Average amount $6,680
70.0%
Average amount $9,492
Students receiving federal student loan 40.0%
Average amount $5,048
52.0%
Average amount $5,618
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $10,260
0.0%
Average amount $14,496

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 38,891
Men 49.6% Women 50.4%
18,288
Men 36.2% Women 63.8%
Graduate students 4,008
Men 40.1% Women 59.9%
3,324
Men 31.7% Women 68.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 3.2% 1.4%
International students 2.1% 1.3%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 5,404 3,398
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Georgia Florida Tennessee North Carolina Texas Texas Florida California Arkansas Illinois

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Psychology
  • Business
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Agriculture
  • Communication and Journalism
Students to faculty ratio 22:1 20:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 48.6% 57.3%
Dropout rate 15.4% 16.2%
Transferred out 29.2% 23.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,071
  • Year 2: $93,224
  • Year 3: $98,123
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,156
  • Year 2: $91,949
  • Year 3: $96,892
Statistics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,986
  • Year 2: $73,081
  • Year 3: $84,149
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,631
  • Year 2: $67,846
  • Year 3: $82,279
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,741
  • Year 2: $68,499
  • Year 3: $79,517
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,115
  • Year 2: $73,112
  • Year 3: $79,270
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $103,917
  • Year 2: $73,635
  • Year 3: $77,801
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,617
  • Year 2: $73,446
  • Year 3: $76,255
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,334
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $74,139
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,769
  • Year 2: $62,409
  • Year 3: $73,276
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,554
  • Year 2: $68,858
  • Year 3: $76,776
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,691
  • Year 2: $74,953
  • Year 3: $76,058
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,097
  • Year 2: $69,740
  • Year 3: $73,214
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,694
  • Year 2: $66,049
  • Year 3: $72,403
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,377
  • Year 2: $56,415
  • Year 3: $67,947
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,438
  • Year 2: $60,128
  • Year 3: $67,313
Music (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,381
  • Year 2: $57,705
  • Year 3: $65,080
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,710
  • Year 2: $68,666
  • Year 3: $62,801
Agricultural Mechanization (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,352
  • Year 2: $49,436
  • Year 3: $59,631
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,213
  • Year 2: $56,579
  • Year 3: $57,976

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