Sam Houston State vs Texas State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D1 programs. Sam Houston State runs $4,740 less per year out of state; Texas State graduates earn $2,695 more a decade out.
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 $4,740 less per year in tuition and housing than Texas State.
- You would be in-state: Sam Houston State is $2,222 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Texas State.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 10 camps at Sam Houston State against none listed at Texas State.
- You want the more realistic path to a roster spot: Sam Houston State rates competitive to recruit against very competitive at Texas State.
Lean Texas State if…
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Texas State graduates earn about $2,695 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Texas State is $983 lower than at Sam Houston State.
- You want to play in June: Texas State has reached 4 more NCAA tournaments than Sam Houston State since 2021.
- You want the stronger program on paper: Texas State rates strong against solid at Sam Houston State.
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 | Texas State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $9,228 — Sam Houston State leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $11,450 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $19,020 — Sam Houston State leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $23,210 |
| Room & board | $11,720 — Sam Houston State leads on this measure: lower room & board | $12,270 |
| 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 | $23,720 |
| 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 | $35,480 |
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 | Texas State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 55% | 56% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $54,211/yr | $56,906/yr — Texas State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,983 | $21,000 — Texas State leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 41% | 37% — Texas State leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn |
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 | Texas State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 90% | 89% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 21,403 | 38,722 |
| Where it is | Huntsville, TX | San Marcos, 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 | Texas State |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | CUSA | Sun Belt |
| NCAA tournament, 2021-2026Furthest round reached each year. Division I only. | None since 2021 | 4 of the last 6 tournaments |
| Program strengthCommitBound rating from division, conference level, postseason record and staff stability. | Solid | Strong |
| Recruiting difficultyHow hard it typically is to earn a roster spot here. | Competitive | Very Competitive |
| Head coach | Garrett Valis | Ricci Woodard |
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 | Texas State |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 10 listed (10 with dates) | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | 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
Texas State
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps 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 Texas State: common questions
- Is Sam Houston State or Texas State cheaper?
- On published price, Sam Houston State is cheaper — about $30,740 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $35,480 at Texas 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 Texas State?
- Texas State, at 56% against 55% at Sam Houston State (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Sam Houston State and Texas 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.
- Which is harder to get recruited by?
- Texas State rates very competitive against competitive at Sam Houston State. This is an elite D1 program. Recruits typically have extensive travel ball experience, strong academics, and begin the recruiting process early.
- Do Sam Houston State and Texas State run softball camps?
- We track 10 camps at Sam Houston State and none currently listed at Texas 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 Texas State?
- Sam Houston State runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Texas State, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
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 Texas State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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