NAMED FOR TEXAS’S greatest hero, Sam Houston State University (SHSU) honors its historical roots through academic excellence. For more than 140 years, SHSU has prepared students for meaningful lives of achievement. Its motto, “The measure of a Life is its Service,” resonates among its more than 21,000 students and eight colleges, as well as beyond its Huntsville roots.
With SHSU’s array of recognized academic programs, student support services, volunteer opportunities and more, Bearkats are not only well-prepared to think and respond to the workforce needs of a rapidly changing world but stand ready to serve their community.
U.S. News and World Report ranks SHSU first in Texas among “Top Performers on Social Mobility” and sixth in “Best Colleges in Texas.” Offering top-ranked degree programs, the university is third among the “Best Value Online Colleges” by TexasOnlineColleges.com. The SHSU College of Osteopathic Medicine’s first cohort holds a ninety-seven percent passing rate on COMLEX USA Level I exams. From medical and doctoral degrees, undergraduate to graduate programs—including the nation’s first Ph.D. in forensic science—SHSU provides an exceptional college experience for every student.
Since 2021, Bearkat Athletics have competed in seventeen NCAA Division I sports in the Western Athletic Conference and will join Conference USA in 2023. The conference move requires a two-year NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision transition to be completed by fall 2024.
