Sam Houston State University (SHSU) vs Northern Arizona University (NAU)

Sam Houston State University and Northern Arizona University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Sam Houston State, located in Huntsville, Texas, boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for aspiring students. Northern Arizona University, situated in Flagstaff, Arizona, stands out with its lower student-to-faculty ratio, fostering a more personalized learning environment. While Sam Houston State excels in fields like criminal justice and nursing, Northern Arizona University shines in programs such as forestry and engineering. Explore the comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details about these universities, including their graduation rates, student body demographics, and more, to make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and preferences.
Northern Arizona University logo

Northern Arizona University

Sam Houston State University logo

Sam Houston State University

Overview

Location Flagstaff, Arizona Huntsville, Texas
Campus setting City: Small 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 No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 78.4% 96.6%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
SAT range N/A 950 - 1120
ACT range N/A 18 - 23
Students submitting SAT score 57.0%
Students submitting ACT score 16.0%
Total number of applicants 42,872 11,556
Total number of admissions given out 33,592 11,161
Admitted students who chose to enroll 5,297 2,908
Yield rate 15.8% 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: $28,430

Out of state: $43,176
In state: $24,612

Out of state: $34,404
Average net price $16,059 $14,287
Tuition
In state: $10,650

Out of state: $25,396
In state: $5,856

Out of state: $15,648
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,000

Meal plan: $5,338
Room/dormitory: $5,918

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

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

97.0%
Average amount $12,922
70.0%
Average amount $9,492
Students receiving federal student loan 34.0%
Average amount $5,314
52.0%
Average amount $5,618
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $13,306
0.0%
Average amount $14,496

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 24,162
Men 37.0% Women 63.0%
18,288
Men 36.2% Women 63.8%
Graduate students 4,549
Men 32.1% Women 67.9%
3,324
Men 31.7% Women 68.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 31.9% 1.4%
International students 2.2% 1.3%
Campus local/setting City: Small Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 9,853 3,398
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Arizona California Colorado Nevada New Mexico Texas Florida California Arkansas Illinois

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Business
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Agriculture
  • Communication and Journalism
Students to faculty ratio 21:1 20:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 59.0% 57.3%
Dropout rate 40.0% 16.2%
Transferred out N/A 23.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,560
  • Year 2: $101,406
  • Year 3: $108,112
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,716
  • Year 2: $92,632
  • Year 3: $96,135
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,374
  • Year 2: $79,081
  • Year 3: $89,768
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,244
  • Year 2: $76,117
  • Year 3: $81,532
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,225
  • Year 2: $74,890
  • Year 3: $79,106
Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,718
  • Year 2: $68,219
  • Year 3: $75,432
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,725
  • Year 2: $71,183
  • Year 3: $71,928
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,840
  • Year 2: $59,350
  • Year 3: $70,793
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,911
  • Year 2: $65,042
  • Year 3: $70,433
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,712
  • Year 2: $54,252
  • Year 3: $68,199
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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