Named for Sam Houston, Texas’ greatest hero, Sam Houston State University continually strives to honor its historical roots through academic excellence that includes exceptional teaching from faculty.
Sam Houston State University Distance Learning Courses
For more than 139 years, SHSU has been preparing students for meaningful lives of achievement. Its motto, “The measure of a Life is Its Service,” resonates among its 21,500+ students and echoes across eight colleges and beyond its Huntsville roots.
Education
With over 90 bachelor's degree programs, more than 60 master’s degree programs and 10 doctoral programs, including the nation’s first PhD in Forensic Science, SHSU offers an exceptional college experience. SHSU continually strives to meet the needs of contemporary students, both traditional and online.
Research
The Sam Houston State University Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) is committed to partnering with faculty and staff to promote, facilitate, and enhance scholarly activities through sponsored projects.
Career
An education from Sam Houston State University prepares graduates to be a vital part of the world. It gives them the theoretical and practical knowledge to understand and solve challenges. It equips them with the experience and confidence to become effective leaders. It develops in them a heart for service to their communities.
Sam Houston State UniversityKey Statistics & Highlights
Enhance quality of proposals submitted for external funding
Develop proposals for submission
Assist with budget development
Negotiate contracts with sponsors
Support intellectual property disclosures and assists with the
commercialization
Protect faculty, staff, students and participants during their research
Develop publicity
Housing services
All 26 of our residence halls and apartments provide economical and convenient living for students. We house approximately 3300 Bearkats, providing one of the widest varieties of living options in this region of the country.
Library services
The Newton Gresham Library serves the research needs of the Sam Houston State University community. The library holds over 1.3 million books, bound periodicals, and government documents and a variety of formats, including multimedia, digital collections, microforms, microfiche, phonograph records, videotape, and newspapers.
Medical services
The Student Health Center, located at the corner of Avenue J and Bearkat Boulevard, provides comprehensive routine health services and education to currently enrolled students.
Accreditation
Sam Houston State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees.
Sam Houston State UniversityOverview
Sam Houston State UniversityRankings
Study Portals Meta Ranking
Top 18.7%United States
Top 27.9%Worldwide
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
Best Global Universities Rankings
2141
By U.S. News & World Report
Dropped 119 places compared to 2026
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
3 year trend Best Global Universities Rankings
2025
2026
2027
1972
2022
2141
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.