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Public 4-Year Minimally Selective Houston, TX NCAA Division I-FBS

University of Houston

Houston, TX

73.9%
Acceptance Rate
$27,761/yr
Est. Cost of Attendancesum of published cost components
$14,276/yr
Avg Price After Aid
64.7%
6-yr Grad Rate
38,380
Undergrads

About University of Houston

University of Houston is a public institution located in Houston, Texas, situated in a large city setting. The university serves an undergraduate enrollment of 38,380 students with a student-to-faculty ratio of 22:1.

Type
Public 4-Year
Undergrads
38,380
Avg Faculty Salary
$120,147
Athletics
NCAA Division I-FBS
Endowment
$1.3B
Pell Students
41.6%
First-Gen
40.5%
What University of Houston Is Known For
Majors far more concentrated here than at colleges nationally
Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst 265 graduates · 3.3% of degrees here vs 0.05% nationally 72×
Hotel/Motel Administration/Management 154 graduates · 1.9% of degrees here vs 0.04% nationally 44×
Health and Wellness 302 graduates · 3.7% of degrees here vs 0.17% nationally 21×
Management Information Systems 354 graduates · 4.4% of degrees here vs 0.35% nationally 12×
Computer and Information Sciences 430 graduates · 5.3% of degrees here vs 1.43% nationally
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023, against the national share at the same degree level
Admissions
73.9%
Acceptance rate · Minimally Selective
30,327
Applicants
Can I Get In? →
Cost & Aid
$14,276 avg net
Average net price after aid
$10,929
Under $30K income
$1.3B
Endowment
Can I Afford It? →
Outcomes
$52,768 median
Median earnings 6 years after entering
64.7%
6-yr Grad Rate
$18,194
Median Debt
Is It Worth It? →

University of Houston Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate
73.9%
30,327 applicants
Student:Faculty Ratio
22:1
Undergrad instruction

University of Houston has an acceptance rate of 73.9%, admitting most applicants. Applicants meeting standard requirements have a strong likelihood of acceptance.

How Selective Is That, Really?
Each dot is one of 100 applicants · Source: school's Common Data Set, else College Scorecard
1 in 2 applicants is admitted · 30,327 applied
10-Year Acceptance Rate Trend
10-year trend · Source: College Scorecard
10 years

SAT & ACT Score Ranges

Where Admitted Students Score
Middle 50% of enrolled students, on the full SAT scale · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS)
Fall 2023
1160–1340
40080012001600
Who Applies, and Who Gets In
First-year applicants, admits and enrollees by gender
Applied Admitted Rate Enrolled
Men 13,142 8,903 67.7% 2,513
Women 17,185 12,184 70.9% 3,139
SOURCEIPEDS Admissions — Fall 2023 admissions cycle
How These Admissions Numbers Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

University of Houston admits 73.9% of applicants — a typical similar college admits 83%.

Acceptance rate
This school
73.9%
Similar colleges (532)
83%
TX (89)
84.5%
National (1,934)
78.1%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

University of Houston Tuition, Fees & Cost of Attendance

Avg Net Price
$14,276
Average for all students receiving federal aid, 2023-24
Median Federal Debt
$18,194
Federal Loan Rate
31.7%
Students borrowing federal loans

The University of Houston's cost of attendance is $27,761, while the average net price students pay is $14,276. Students with financial aid pay considerably less than the sticker price.

Cost of Attendance Breakdown
Estimated annual costs · on-campus, 2023-24 · Source: College Scorecard
$27,761
In-state Tuition & Fees
$9,717
35%
Room & Board
$11,286
41%
Books & Supplies
$1,430
5%
Other Expenses
$5,328
19%

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income
Average net price after all grants and scholarships · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS net price)
Under $30,000
$10,929
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,220
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,528
$75,001 – $110,000
$19,197
Over $110,000
$23,811

* One or more income brackets show an unusually low net price, reflecting need-based aid that can reduce cost to near zero for families in that range.

Full Cost of Attendance
Source: College Scorecard
2023-24

Student Loan Debt

How Many Students Borrow
Undergraduates taking on any loan
Take out a loan
73%
Federal loans
32%

Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $193.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How This Price Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

After aid, University of Houston costs $14,276 a year — about 2% less than a typical similar college.

Cost of attendance
This school
$26,185
Similar colleges (565)
$25,083
TX (167)
$22,352
Houston-The Woodlands, TX (33)
$21,968
National (3,197)
$25,367
Students taking a loan
This school
73%
Similar colleges (583)
84.8%
TX (286)
85.1%
Houston-The Woodlands, TX (57)
86.4%
National (4,096)
86.4%
Median debt at graduation
This school
$18,194
Similar colleges (585)
$21,000
TX (306)
$10,667
Houston-The Woodlands, TX (60)
$10,958
National (4,347)
$13,097
Average net price
This school
$14,276
Similar colleges (565)
$14,600
TX (342)
$18,300
Houston-The Woodlands, TX (66)
$18,527
National (5,106)
$17,160

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

University of Houston Graduation Rate & Student Outcomes

6-yr Grad Rate
64.7%
Median Earnings 6yr
$52,768
6 years after entering

University of Houston has a graduation rate of 64.7%. Graduates earn a median of $52,768 six years after entry and $62,377 ten years after entry.

Graduate Earnings After College

Median Graduate Earnings Over Time
6 and 10 years after entering · includes all students, not just graduates · Source: College Scorecard
Median Earnings by Gender · 6 Years After Entering
Students working 6 years after entering · Source: College Scorecard
$56,068
Men
$50,414
Women
Graduation Rate: Pell vs. Non-Pell
6-year graduation rate by grant status · Source: College Scorecard
62.9%
Pell recipients
57.8%
Non-Pell students

Top Majors & Programs

Top Majors by Graduates
Most recent year available · bachelor's degrees only · Source: IPEDS Completions 2023
MajorGraduates
Psychology, General718
Computer and Information Sciences, General430
Finance, General381
Marketing/Marketing Management, General373
Management Information Systems, General354
Biology/Biological Sciences, General342
Exercise Science and Kinesiology306
Health and Wellness, General302
Accounting275
Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst265
Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity
Completing within six years
Asian
75.3%
White
63.3%
Hispanic
59.5%
Black
58.4%
SOURCECollege Scorecard — groups with too few students to report are omitted
Earnings Further Out
The longer horizon

Median earnings eight years after entering University of Houston are $58,739, and 75% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How These Outcomes Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Six years after entry, former University of Houston students earn $52,768 — 15% more than at a typical similar college.

Median earnings, 10 years
This school
$62,377
Similar colleges (587)
$54,560
TX (298)
$38,475
Houston-The Woodlands, TX (59)
$39,254
National (4,696)
$40,782
Median earnings, 6 years
This school
$52,768
Similar colleges (589)
$46,058
TX (314)
$32,803
Houston-The Woodlands, TX (61)
$34,299
National (4,847)
$35,433
Graduation rate
This school
64.7%
Similar colleges (566)
51.7%
TX (116)
43.3%
Houston-The Woodlands, TX (20)
38.3%
National (2,168)
52.3%
Freshman retention
This school
86.7%
Similar colleges (567)
76%
TX (87)
68.8%
National (1,841)
75.7%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

University of Houston Campus, Athletics & Faculty

University of Houston is a public institution located in Houston, a large city in Texas. The undergraduate student body includes 38,380 students, of whom 52.1% are women, 40.5% are first-generation students, and 41.6% receive Pell grants.

Student Demographics
Undergraduate enrollment · Source: College Scorecard / IPEDS
Race & Ethnicity
White
16.4%
Asian
23.1%
Hispanic
38.1%
Black
12.3%
Other Indicators
First-generation
40.5%
Pell grant recipients
41.6%
Women
52.1%
University of Houston Athletics
Total Revenue
$13.3M
Total Expense
$13.3M
Athletes
565
331 men · 234 women
Head Coach Salaries
Men's vs Women's programs · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's sports
$2,076,246
Women's sports
$163,388

Average head coach salary by program gender.

Athletic Aid
Scholarship spending by gender · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's aid
$5,430,202
Women's aid
$3,751,912
Academic Resources
1,523
Full-time faculty
$120,147
Avg faculty salary
14,055
FT staff
$1.3B
Endowment
Faculty Salary by Gender
All instructional ranks combined · Source: IPEDS Human Resources
Men (avg)
$131,868
Women (avg)
$104,319
Overall avg
$120,147
Who Is on Campus
Beyond the undergraduate headcount
Undergraduates
38,380
Graduate students
8,723
Varsity Athletes
Play a varsity sport
1.6%

442 of 27,553 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.

SOURCEIPEDS enrollment; Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filings
Online & Distance Learning
How much of the teaching happens remotely
Undergrads fully online
10.6%
Undergrads taking any
74%
Grad students fully online
15%

4,020 of 37,946 undergraduates study entirely at a distance, against 1,310 of 8,730 graduate students.

SOURCEIPEDS Fall Enrollment, distance education status

University of Houston is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and operates its own medical school.

How This Campus Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

University of Houston spends $32,555 per student on research — about a typical similar college.

Pell grant share
This school
41.6%
Similar colleges (590)
34%
TX (358)
52.5%
Houston-The Woodlands, TX (70)
56%
National (5,367)
40.1%
Research spending per student
This school
$32,555
Similar colleges (531)
$8,786
TX (158)
$6,462
Houston-The Woodlands, TX (29)
$6,535
National (2,823)
$5,605
Students per faculty member
This school
22:1
Similar colleges (595)
16:1
TX (359)
17:1
Houston-The Woodlands, TX (69)
18:1
National (5,427)
15:1

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Every Major at University of Houston
90 fields of study, bachelor's degree level, grouped by subject area
8,124 graduates
Business and Marketing 2,279 grads · 13 majors
Finance, General 381
Marketing/Marketing Management, General 373
Management Information Systems, General 354
Accounting 275
Business Administration and Management,... 260
Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain... 234
Hotel/Motel Administration/Management 154
Management Science 108
Human Resources Development 74
Organizational Leadership 42
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies 21
Business/Corporate Communications, General 2
Sales, Distribution, and Marketing... 1
Computer and Information Sciences 802 grads · 3 majors
Computer and Information Sciences, General 430
Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst 265
Computer Graphics 107
Psychology 718 grads · 1 major
Psychology, General 718
Engineering 549 grads · 8 majors
Mechanical Engineering 190
Chemical Engineering 78
Civil Engineering, General 71
Electrical and Electronics Engineering 70
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 52
Computer Engineering, General 45
Industrial Engineering 30
Petroleum Engineering 13
Biological and Biomedical Sciences 509 grads · 4 majors
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 342
Biotechnology 84
Biochemistry 74
Biomedical Sciences, General 9
Health Professions 466 grads · 3 majors
Health and Wellness, General 302
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 84
Communication Sciences and Disorders, General 80
Social Sciences 421 grads · 4 majors
Political Science and Government, General 197
Economics, General 124
Sociology, General 69
Anthropology, General 31
Parks, Recreation and Kinesiology 366 grads · 2 majors
Exercise Science and Kinesiology 306
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 60
Communication and Journalism 321 grads · 9 majors
Public Relations, Advertising, and... 112
Radio and Television 99
Journalism 53
Communication, General 32
Health Communication 15
Advertising 5
Public Relations/Image Management 3
Mass Communication/Media Studies 1
Speech Communication and Rhetoric 1
Multidisciplinary Studies 309 grads · 2 majors
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 229
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General 80
Engineering Technologies 282 grads · 4 majors
Construction Engineering... 143
Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering... 66
Computer Engineering Technology/Technician 42
Electrical, Electronic, and... 31
Family and Consumer Sciences 263 grads · 3 majors
Human Nutrition 134
Human Development and Family Studies, General 83
Business Family and Consumer... 46
Visual and Performing Arts 246 grads · 11 majors
Art/Art Studies, General 49
Music, General 44
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 28
Painting 24
Graphic Design 23
Music Performance, General 21
Industrial and Product Design 18
Photography 12
Art History, Criticism and Conservation 10
Dance, General 10
Sculpture 7
Architecture 131 grads · 3 majors
Architecture 106
Interior Architecture 22
Environmental Design/Architecture 3
English Language and Literature 108 grads · 1 major
English Language and Literature, General 108
History 71 grads · 1 major
History, General 71
Mathematics and Statistics 69 grads · 2 majors
Mathematics, General 64
Mathematical Biology 5
Physical Sciences 69 grads · 4 majors
Chemistry, General 23
Geology/Earth Science, General 23
Physics, General 17
Geophysics and Seismology 6
Foreign Languages and Linguistics 39 grads · 4 majors
Spanish Language and Literature 21
Foreign Languages and Literatures, General 9
American Sign Language 8
French Language and Literature 1
Liberal Arts and General Studies 34 grads · 1 major
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 34
Philosophy and Religious Studies 29 grads · 1 major
Philosophy 29
Natural Resources and Conservation 24 grads · 1 major
Environmental Science 24
Area, Ethnic and Gender Studies 15 grads · 4 majors
Chinese Studies 6
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and... 6
African-American/Black Studies 2
Hispanic-American, Puerto Rican, and... 1
Public Administration and Social Services 4 grads · 1 major
Public Policy Analysis, General 4
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023 — first majors only, so a student with a double major is counted once

University of Houston Location & Campus Safety

University of Houston is in Houston, TX, in what IPEDS classifies as a large city setting. The campus sits about 5.3 miles from the center of Houston. There are 11 other colleges within 25 miles, and Houston, TX is 5.3 miles away.

University of Houston Other colleges within 30 miles
Large city
Campus Setting
5.3 mi
To City Center
11
Colleges Within 25 mi
2,300,419
Houston Population
Living in Houston
Cost of living and getting around, for the whole city — not the campus
ACS 2023
$1,313
Median Rent / mo
$62,894
Median Household Income
31.6%
Rent as % of Income
How People Commute
Drive alone
69.7%
Walk
1.9%
Public transit
3.3%

Harris County scores 10.8 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — above average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.

Undergraduates make up about 4.8% of Houston's residents.

SOURCEU.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates; EPA National Walkability Index
Colleges Near University of Houston
Within 30 miles, at least 500 students, by straight-line distance
Rice University 4,776 students 3.5 mi
SOURCEIPEDS campus coordinates, University of Houston to each campus

Campus Safety at University of Houston

Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures University of Houston reported for 2024.

211
On-Campus Offenses
65
In Residence Halls
4.4
Per 1,000 Students
53
Domestic, Dating & Stalking

Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.

Reported On-Campus Offenses by Year
Criminal offenses reported on campus, including residence halls · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Clery Act disclosures
2022
82
2023
190
2024
211
What Was Reported in 2024
On-campus criminal offenses by category
Burglary
106
Motor vehicle theft
69
Sexual offenses
25
Aggravated assault
9
Robbery
2

Separately, University of Houston reported 68 arrests and 9 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.

SOURCEU.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety and Security — Clery Act disclosures, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about University of Houston admissions, costs, and outcomes.