South Dakota University vs Sam Houston State University (SHSU)

Envision yourself as a student, embarking on a journey of higher education. As you navigate the vast landscape of universities, two prominent institutions emerge: the University of South Dakota (USD) and Sam Houston State University (SHSU). While both offer exceptional academic opportunities, they possess distinct characteristics that may influence your decision. USD, nestled in the vibrant city of Vermillion, boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a diverse student body from various backgrounds. SHSU, located in the historic town of Huntsville, Texas, stands out with its strong focus on undergraduate education and a rich tradition in athletics. Explore the comparison table below to delve into further details, such as popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that will help you determine which university aligns best with your aspirations and goals.
Sam Houston State University logo

Sam Houston State University

University of South Dakota logo

University of South Dakota

Overview

Location Huntsville, Texas Vermillion, South Dakota
Campus setting Town: Distant 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 73.0% 77.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 96.6% 87.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
Undergraduate: $20

Graduate: $35
SAT range 950 - 1120 1050 - 1290
ACT range 18 - 23 19 - 25
Students submitting SAT score 57.0% 3.0%
Students submitting ACT score 16.0% 80.0%
Total number of applicants 11,556 4,272
Total number of admissions given out 11,161 3,717
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,908 1,233
Yield rate 26.1% 33.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $24,612

Out of state: $34,404
In state: $25,657

Out of state: $29,167
Average net price $14,287 $18,974
Tuition
In state: $5,856

Out of state: $15,648
In state: $7,773

Out of state: $11,283
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,918

Meal plan: $4,650
Room/dormitory: $4,366

Meal plan: $4,234
Available payment plans
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

70.0%
Average amount $9,492
84.0%
Average amount $5,196
Students receiving federal student loan 52.0%
Average amount $5,618
60.0%
Average amount $5,102
Students taking out private loans 0.0%
Average amount $14,496
14.0%
Average amount $9,890

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 18,288
Men 36.2% Women 63.8%
6,987
Men 35.9% Women 64.1%
Graduate students 3,324
Men 31.7% Women 68.3%
2,477
Men 37.2% Women 62.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Very Low
Out-of-state students 1.4% 39.4%
International students 1.3% 2.7%
Campus local/setting Town: Distant Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 3,398 2,154
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Texas Florida California Arkansas Illinois South Dakota Iowa Nebraska Minnesota Wisconsin

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Agriculture
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Liberal Arts
Students to faculty ratio 20:1 14:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 57.3% 60.1%
Dropout rate 16.2% 14.2%
Transferred out 23.6% 24.5%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,722
  • Year 2: $100,951
  • Year 3: $109,099
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,473
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $100,634
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,587
  • Year 2: $68,778
  • Year 3: $81,751
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $70,456
  • Year 3: $69,478
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,040
  • Year 2: $62,012
  • Year 3: $68,456
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,011
  • Year 2: $57,860
  • Year 3: $68,011
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $62,632
  • Year 3: $64,788
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,801
  • Year 2: $65,170
  • Year 3: $64,105
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,161
  • Year 2: $62,260
  • Year 3: $63,921
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,986
  • Year 2: $52,941
  • Year 3: $61,718

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