Sam Houston State UniversityMove-In Guide
Huntsville, Texas
🏫 Public UniversityEst. 1879🔗 www.shsu.edu
Sam Houston State's Huntsville campus is centered around Austin Hall, its own architectural symbol dedicated in 1851 with Sam Houston himself in attendance - first-year students live in a variety of traditional and suite-style residence halls, each with its own building-specific policies.
Enrollment
21,679
Total Students
Freshman Class
5,420
Approx.
Move-In Dates
Aug 13-18, 2026
Fall 2026
Acceptance Rate
90%
Most recent cycle
Move-In
Fall 2026 Move-In Details
Move-in is by appointment only, and every student must be checked in by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, Aug. 18. Bring bedding sized for an XL Twin bed (36" x 78"). If your assigned room already includes a refrigerator, you may not bring your own (otherwise, one no larger than 5.0 cu. ft. is allowed). Weapons, candles, incense, halogen lamps, extension cords, and pets other than fish are all prohibited.
Check your assignment in the housing portal for your specific date and time - your exact move-in date is shown above in the Overview.
- What you'll receive
- Sign your Resident Agreement and pick up your key(s) - most halls use card access for building entry, so have your Bearkat OneCard (student ID) activated and in hand when you arrive.
Move-in day tips
- Arrive during your assigned move-in window - arriving early may mean waiting until your time slot.
- Bring a rolling cart or hand truck - campus carts can run out quickly during busy move-in periods.
- Have a parking backup plan - spaces near residence halls can fill up quickly, so know where you can unload if your preferred area is full.
- Watch the loading-zone time limit - many campuses require you to move your vehicle to longer-term parking after unloading.
Housing & Dorms
- Photo coming soon
Belvin Hall
Traditional · Single-sex
- Photo coming soon
Estill Hall
Suite-style · Coed
Housing Links
Each available link goes directly to Sam Houston State University's own specific page, not just its general homepage.
Orientation
New Student Orientation - required; up to 2 registered guests permitted
All new students are required to attend one orientation session.
June 1 - August 10, 2026
Orientation tips
- Register as early as your class allows - popular session dates fill up first.
- Bring a parent/guardian if separate family programming is offered.
- Check whether placement testing or advising sign-ups happen the same day.
Costs
Room & Board
—
Not available
Nearby Essentials
Nearby data coming soon.
More Links
Transportation›
- Uber - coming soon
- Public Transportation - coming soon
- University Transportation - coming soon
Checklists
Get the Ultimate College Move-In Checklist
A free, printable packing checklist covering everything from bedding to important documents - built for any freshman, including yours at Sam Houston State University.
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