North Texas vs Sam Houston State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Sam Houston State runs $1,309 less per year out of state; North Texas graduates 5 points more of its students.
Which one is right for you?
Neither school is better in the abstract — they are better for different athletes. These are the differences big enough to actually decide on.
Lean North Texas if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: North Texas graduates 5 percentage points more of its students than Sam Houston State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: North Texas graduates earn about $2,799 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at North Texas is $2,733 lower than at Sam Houston State.
- You want to play in June: North Texas has reached 1 more NCAA tournament than Sam Houston State since 2021.
Lean Sam Houston State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Sam Houston State lists $1,309 less per year in tuition and housing than North Texas.
- You would be in-state: Sam Houston State is $1,936 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than North Texas.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 10 camps at Sam Houston State against 1 at North Texas.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Sam Houston State admits 90% of applicants.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price from IPEDS. Almost nobody pays it — athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off the top — but the gap between two schools is a fair read on the gap between two offers.
| Measure | North Texas | Sam Houston State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $11,164 | $9,228 — Sam Houston State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $21,244 | $19,020 — Sam Houston State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition |
| Room & board | $10,805 — North Texas leads on this measure: lower room & board | $11,720 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $21,969 | $20,948 — Sam Houston State leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $32,049 | $30,740 — Sam Houston State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost |
What you leave with
Federal College Scorecard figures for all students at the institution, not softball players specifically. Read them as a signal about the degree, not about the program.
| Measure | North Texas | Sam Houston State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 60% — North Texas leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 55% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $57,010/yr — North Texas leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $54,211/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,250 — North Texas leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $21,983 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 34% — North Texas leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 41% |
Getting in, and what you'd walk into
Admissions and size. A coach can support your file, but at most schools they cannot admit you — the academic profile below is the bar you still have to clear.
| Measure | North Texas | Sam Houston State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 72% | 90% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 47,507 | 21,403 |
| Where it is | Denton, TX | Huntsville, TX |
The softball program itself
Division and conference set the ceiling; the postseason record and staff tell you what the program has actually done with it.
| Measure | North Texas | Sam Houston State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | American | CUSA |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | 1 of the last 6 tournaments | None since 2021 |
| Head coach | Cody White | Garrett Valis |
How you actually get in front of them
Camps and questionnaires are the two channels a recruit controls. Where a program runs its own camp, that camp is usually the shortest path to being evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
| Measure | North Texas | Sam Houston State |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 1 listed | 10 listed (10 with dates) |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division I, so the scholarship rules are identical: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. A program's own camp is where its staff does most of its evaluating — submit the questionnaire first so they know to look for you.
Sam Houston State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Elite Prospect Camp | August 8th08/08/2026 · 9th Grade - 12th Grade · $175
- Youth Camp | August 22nd08/22/2026 · Kindergarten - 7th Grade · $25
- Hitting Clinic | September 7th | 6:00pm - 7:30pm09/07/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $60
- Pitching Clinic | September 14th | 6:00pm - 7:30pm09/14/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $60
North Texas vs Sam Houston State: common questions
- Is North Texas or Sam Houston State cheaper?
- On published price, Sam Houston State is cheaper — about $30,740 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $32,049 at North Texas. That is sticker price; athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off it, so ask both coaches what an actual offer would look like.
- Which school graduates more of its students, North Texas or Sam Houston State?
- North Texas, at 60% against 55% at Sam Houston State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do North Texas and Sam Houston State offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division I: up to 25 (2025 roster rules; traditionally 12). Full rides exist at the top programs, but most D1 softball players are on partial scholarships. Coaches historically split about 12 equivalencies across an entire roster, and even under the 2025 rules most programs fund well below the 25-scholarship maximum.
- Do North Texas and Sam Houston State run softball camps?
- Both do — we track 1 at North Texas and 10 at Sam Houston State. A program's own camp is usually the fastest way to be evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
- How do I contact the coaches at North Texas and Sam Houston State?
- Both programs run a recruiting questionnaire, and that is the right first move — it is exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit it at any age. Fill out both, then follow with an email to each staff.
Cost, graduation and enrollment figures from IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2023-24). Earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard. Postseason results from the NCAA Division I softball tournament records, 2021-2026. Rankings from NCAA.com and U.S. News & World Report. Figures describe the institution, not the softball roster.
We work hard to keep all data for North Texas and Sam Houston State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
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