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University of Houston-Downtown
University of Houston-Downtown admits nearly everyone — 90% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether University of Houston-Downtown is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
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University of Houston-Downtown sits in Houston proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians, where graduates median $112,244 four years out. Faculty pay averages $113,052 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. Most of its 12,555 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 67.1% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 960 and 1110 — below the TX middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of Houston-Downtown's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
University of Houston-Downtown is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 960–1110 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically University of Houston-Downtown's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 490 | 520 | 560 |
| SAT Math | 470 | 520 | 550 |
| ACT Composite | 17 | 20 | 23 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Houston-Downtown received 6,953 applications and admitted 6,302 (90.6%), with 1,491 enrolling.
How University of Houston-Downtown compares
| University of Houston-Downtown | Texas median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 90% | 84.4% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $7,708 | $13,498 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $53,551 | $54,132 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, University of Houston-Downtown's median earnings are $53,551 — below the Texas benchmark of $54,132. Weigh that against the $7,708 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, University of Houston-Downtown prices by residency: $7,708 in-state versus $17,548 out-of-state — a $9,840 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
University of Houston-Downtown enrolls 12,555 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs University of Houston-Downtown's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
Fewer than half of University of Houston-Downtown students — 33.2% — finish within six years. That number should shape how much debt feels safe.
Top majors by earnings at University of Houston-Downtown
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $112,244 |
| Insurance | $98,510 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $72,528 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $69,712 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $67,499 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $66,881 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $66,591 |
| International Business | $66,556 |
| Mathematics | $62,576 |
| Marketing | $61,866 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $59,924 |
| Political Science and Government | $59,261 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $59,188 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $58,535 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $57,892 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $56,995 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $56,903 |
| Biology, General | $56,787 |
| Social Work | $54,784 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $53,589 |
| History | $53,555 |
| Public Health | $52,438 |
| Psychology, General | $48,234 |
| Sociology | $46,106 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $45,223 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $37,668 |
Median earnings for these 26 University of Houston-Downtown programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $53,551 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 17 additional University of Houston-Downtown programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Houston-Downtown?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 960–1110 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 90% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of Houston-Downtown's acceptance rate?
90.6% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 6,302 admitted from 6,953 applicants.
How much does University of Houston-Downtown cost?
In-state tuition is $7,708; out-of-state students pay $17,548. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University of Houston-Downtown graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $53,551 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Texas
- University of Houston-Clear Lake — 90.5% admitted
- Texas A&M University-Victoria — 95.9% admitted
- Hardin-Simmons University — 90% admitted
- University of the Incarnate Word — 98.1% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.