Sam Houston State University
Academics

Back to Profile

How strong are the academics at Sam Houston State University?

Let's cover class sizes, graduation rates, and outcomes.

21:1
Student to faculty ratio
28
Average class size
35%
4-year grad rate

Class Sizes

Class sizes likely stayed the same for you through high school. You'll find that college is much different. Some of the largest universities have classes that can seat hundreds of students in giant lecture halls. Conversely, as they progress and their focus narrows, higher-level courses can sometimes have just a handful of students.

Sam Houston State has an average student-to-faculty ratio of 21:1. The typical school is 14:1. While this ratio is important, what’s more important is how big a typical class is.

Class Sizes
2-9
101
10-19
539
20-29
584
30-39
192
40-49
87
50-99
129
100+
42

Honors Programs

Sam Houston State University has an honors program and/or honors college. Specifics of these programs vary, but benefits of being in an Honors Program might include priority registration, being part of a tight-knit community, and accessing unique learning opportunities.

Learn more about honors options on Sam Houston State's website.

Outcomes

It’s critical to understand a school’s outcomes to understand if your four (or more) years at the school will be worth it. Here are some key statistics about the outcomes of students who enroll at Sam Houston State University:

75%
First-year retention rate
35%
4-year grad rate
56%
6-year grad rate

Majors

Many students choose a school largely based on the what they want to study. The are Sam Houston State University's most popular majors, ranked by how many people graduated with the concentration in the most recent year:

Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
Psychology, General
Business/Commerce, General
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
73.8
219.24
364.68
510.12
655.56
801

The Full List

Major Graduates
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science And Related Fields
  • Animal Sciences, General 103
  • Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations 44
  • Agriculture, General 23
  • AGRICULTURAL / ANIMAL / PLANT / VETERINARY SCIENCE AND RELATED FIELDS 23
  • Agriculture, General 23
  • Agricultural Mechanization, General 17
  • Agronomy and Crop Science 17
  • Agricultural Communication/Journalism 6
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 66
  • Biomedical Sciences, General 54
Business
  • Business/Commerce, General 240
  • Marketing/Marketing Management, General 78
  • Accounting 74
  • Finance, General 61
  • Business Administration and Management, General 58
  • Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General 32
  • Management Information Systems, General 25
  • Banking and Financial Support Services 24
  • Fashion Merchandising 16
  • International Business/Trade/Commerce 16
  • Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management 15
  • Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies 14
  • Business/Managerial Economics 5
Communication
  • Mass Communication/Media Studies 113
  • Speech Communication and Rhetoric 84
  • Radio and Television 17
Communications Technologies/Technicians And Support Services
  • Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects 53
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
  • Computer and Information Sciences, General 40
  • Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance 7
Education
  • Teacher Education, Multiple Levels 303
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
  • Construction Engineering Technology/Technician 69
  • Computer Software Technology/Technician 24
  • Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General 20
  • Computer Engineering Technology/Technician 18
  • Applied Engineering Technologies/Technicians 12
  • Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician 0
English Language And Literature/Letters
  • English Language and Literature, General 38
Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
  • Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General 13
  • Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General 6
  • Foodservice Systems Administration/Management 3
Foreign Languages
  • Spanish Language and Literature 5
  • French Language and Literature 1
Health Professions And Related Programs
  • Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 195
  • HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS 121
  • Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General 121
  • Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General 121
  • Health/Health Care Administration/Management 110
  • Public Health, General 75
  • Music Therapy/Therapist 16
  • Health and Wellness, General 2
  • Athletic Training/Trainer 0
History
  • History, General 74
Homeland Security
  • Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 801
  • Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other 71
  • Homeland Security 34
Liberal Arts And Sciences
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 51
Mathematics And Statistics
  • Mathematics, General 17
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 31
  • Biological and Physical Sciences 4
  • Data Science, General 0
Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Environmental Science 15
Parks
  • Exercise Science and Kinesiology 135
  • Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 2
Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Philosophy 4
Physical Sciences
  • Forensic Chemistry 18
  • Chemistry, General 12
  • Geology/Earth Science, General 10
  • Physics, General 6
Psychology
  • Psychology, General 251
Social Sciences
  • Political Science and Government, General 45
  • Sociology, General 37
  • Geography 9
Visual And Performing Arts
  • Music, General 58
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 38
  • Fine/Studio Arts, General 28
  • Dance, General 27
  • Interior Design 14
  • Musical Theatre 12
  • Graphic Design 10
  • Photography 7

Mistakes were made

(But not by you!)

These are the top 10 mistakes people make when searching for colleges

Top Ten Mistakes

CollegeIQ relies on data from government and private resources. Always confer with the individual college or university for the most recent data. Learn more about our data and methodology.

© 2025 Whittier Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service