Sam Houston State vs Stephen F. Austin State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Sam Houston State runs $1,082 less per year out of state; Sam Houston State graduates 3 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 Sam Houston State if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Sam Houston State lists $1,082 less per year in tuition and housing than Stephen F. Austin State.
- You would be in-state: Sam Houston State is $1,372 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Stephen F. Austin State.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Sam Houston State graduates 3 percentage points more of its students than Stephen F. Austin State.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Sam Houston State graduates earn about $4,577 more per year a decade after enrolling.
Lean Stephen F. Austin State if…
- On the figures we hold, Stephen F. Austin State does not lead Sam Houston State on any measure above. If you are choosing between them, the deciding factors are the ones no table holds: how the staff talks to you, where you would sit on the depth chart, and whether you would want to be there without softball.
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 | Sam Houston State | Stephen F. Austin State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $9,228 — Sam Houston State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $10,600 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $19,020 — Sam Houston State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $20,680 |
| Room & board | $11,720 | $11,142 — Stephen F. Austin State leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $20,948 — Sam Houston State leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $21,742 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $30,740 — Sam Houston State leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $31,822 |
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 | Sam Houston State | Stephen F. Austin State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 55% — Sam Houston State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 52% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $54,211/yr — Sam Houston State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $49,634/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,983 — Sam Houston State leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $23,409 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 41% — Sam Houston State leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 47% |
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 | Sam Houston State | Stephen F. Austin State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 90% | 94% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 21,403 | 10,888 |
| Where it is | Huntsville, TX | Nacogdoches, 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 | Sam Houston State | Stephen F. Austin State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | CUSA | Southland |
| Conference level | High Major | Mid-Major |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | None since 2021 | None since 2021 |
| Head coach | Garrett Valis | Jeff Jackson |
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 | Sam Houston State | Stephen F. Austin State |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 8 listed (8 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
- 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
- Hitting Clinic | October 5th | 6:00pm - 7:30pm10/05/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $60
- Pitching Clinic | October 19th | 6:00pm - 7:30pm10/19/2026 · 8th Grade - 12th Grade · $60
Stephen F. Austin State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Sam Houston State vs Stephen F. Austin State: common questions
- Is Sam Houston State or Stephen F. Austin State cheaper?
- On published price, Sam Houston State is cheaper — about $30,740 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $31,822 at Stephen F. Austin State. 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, Sam Houston State or Stephen F. Austin State?
- Sam Houston State, at 55% against 52% at Stephen F. Austin State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin 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 Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin State run softball camps?
- We track 8 camps at Sam Houston State and none currently listed at Stephen F. Austin State. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin 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 Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
Track both programs, log every coach you contact, and see where you actually stand against each one's recruiting profile.
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