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University of Houston

University of Houston is a public campus in Houston proper — federal locale codes class it as urban. International students are a visible presence at University of Houston — 5.4% of its 38,380 undergraduates come from outside the U.S.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$10,327

family income
under $30k

$10,690

$30–48k

$12,613

$48–75k

$19,459

$75–110k

$22,969

over $110k

Average net price

$14,2762023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at University of Houston rose from $11,129 (2008) to $14,276 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$11,129
2009	$11,384
2010	$12,193
2011	$12,707
2012	$12,822
2013	$13,028
2014	$14,134
2015	$15,399
2016	$16,392
2017	$16,161
2018	$12,838
2019	$13,721
2020	$13,798
2021	$13,900
2022	$13,853
2023	$14,276

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$26,1852024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at University of Houston rose from $17,784 (2009) to $26,185 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$17,784
2010	$19,453
2011	$20,465
2012	$20,887
2013	$22,215
2014	$22,713
2015	$23,267
2016	$23,858
2017	$24,678
2018	$24,923
2019	$22,721
2020	$23,361
2021	$24,014
2022	$24,130
2023	$25,056
2024	$26,185

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$2,476	$7,636
2001	$2,616	$7,680
2002	$2,760	$7,992
2003	$3,258	$8,922
2004	$4,082	$10,274
2005	$5,296	$11,920
2006	$5,648	$12,248
2007	$6,084	$12,756
2008	$6,658	$13,402
2013	$8,401	$16,897
2014	$8,605	$19,693
2015	$8,759	$20,519
2016	$9,519	$21,711
2017	$9,706	$22,066
2018	$8,913	$21,273
2019	$9,221	$21,749
2020	$9,457	$21,673
2021	$9,699	$21,891
2022	$9,699	$21,891
2023	$9,711	$22,191

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

University of Houston reports tuition of $9,717 for in-state students and $22,547 for out-of-state students. Check University of Houston’s residency rules, attendance budget and aid offer. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

University of Houston is a big school: 38,380 undergraduates at last count.

64.6% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at University of Houston within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

64.6%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at University of Houston rose from 35.2% (entered 1993) to 64.6% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	36.5%
1993 cohort	35.2%
1994 cohort	34.9%
1995 cohort	36.3%
1996 cohort	37%
1997 cohort	40.2%
1998 cohort	38.7%
1999 cohort	40.3%
2000 cohort	42.3%
2001 cohort	42.6%
2002 cohort	41.8%
2003 cohort	40.8%
2004 cohort	45.7%
2005 cohort	46.1%
2006 cohort	46.2%
2007 cohort	47.5%
2008 cohort	48.1%
2009 cohort	51%
2010 cohort	50.7%
2011 cohort	53.7%
2012 cohort	59.5%
2013 cohort	61.3%
2014 cohort	62.2%
2015 cohort	62%
2016 cohort	63.1%
2017 cohort	64.9%
2018 cohort	64.6%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$10,457	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$10,479	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$11,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$11,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$11,000	$4,825
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$10,500	$4,635
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$10,875	$4,554
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$11,989	$5,000
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$13,750	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$14,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$15,250	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$15,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$15,600	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$16,500	$5,948
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$18,000	$6,000
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$19,000	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$19,368	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$19,500	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$19,660	$7,250
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$19,250	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$19,000	$8,000
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$18,750	$8,244
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$18,500	$8,486
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$18,194	$8,838

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$52,768

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$58,739

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$62,377

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

University of Houston admitted 23,446 of 31,716 applicants in Fall 2024. The 73.9% rate describes that application pool.

73.9%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $9,711 in-state tuition · 2023–24 38,380 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1160–13401600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, University of Houston received 31,716 applications and admitted 23,446 (73.9%), with 6,218 enrolling.

University of Houston reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For University of Houston’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 590–670 and Math was 570–670 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 1160–1340 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	590	630	670
SAT Math	570	620	670
ACT Composite	23	26	29

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

73.9%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	81.4%
Fall 2002	81.4%
Fall 2003	78%
Fall 2004	80.6%
Fall 2005	80.5%
Fall 2006	74.5%
Fall 2007	76.8%
Fall 2008	78.5%
Fall 2009	69.7%
Fall 2010	70.5%
Fall 2011	63.2%
Fall 2012	56.2%
Fall 2013	58.4%
Fall 2014	63%
Fall 2015	59.7%
Fall 2016	58.5%
Fall 2017	61.1%
Fall 2018	62.3%
Fall 2019	65%
Fall 2020	62.8%
Fall 2021	65.5%
Fall 2022	66.2%
Fall 2023	69.5%
Fall 2024	73.9%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1160–1340Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	920	1150
Fall 2002	920	1150
Fall 2003	940	1170
Fall 2004	940	1170
Fall 2005	950	1190
Fall 2006	950	1190
Fall 2007	940	1170
Fall 2008	940	1170
Fall 2009	970	1190
Fall 2010	980	1200
Fall 2011	1000	1220
Fall 2012	1020	1240
Fall 2013	1030	1250
Fall 2014	1040	1250
Fall 2015	1050	1250
Fall 2016	1040	1250
Fall 2017	1110	1280
Fall 2018	1130	1310
Fall 2019	1140	1310
Fall 2020	1120	1310
Fall 2021	1140	1330
Fall 2022	1160	1330
Fall 2023	1150	1330
Fall 2024	1160	1340

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

23–29Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	19	24
Fall 2004	19	23
Fall 2005	19	24
Fall 2006	19	24
Fall 2007	19	24
Fall 2008	19	24
Fall 2009	20	25
Fall 2010	20	25
Fall 2011	21	26
Fall 2012	21	27
Fall 2013	22	27
Fall 2014	22	27
Fall 2015	23	28
Fall 2016	23	28
Fall 2017	23	27
Fall 2018	22	28
Fall 2019	22	27
Fall 2020	22	28
Fall 2021	23	28
Fall 2022	23	29
Fall 2023	23	28
Fall 2024	23	29

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

38,380Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at University of Houston rose from 25,335 (Fall 2002) to 38,380 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	25,335
Fall 2003	26,024
Fall 2004	26,366
Fall 2005	26,858
Fall 2006	26,243
Fall 2007	26,419
Fall 2008	27,418
Fall 2009	27,979
Fall 2010	29,335
Fall 2011	30,383
Fall 2012	31,316
Fall 2013	30,357
Fall 2014	31,643
Fall 2015	33,300
Fall 2016	34,560
Fall 2017	35,985
Fall 2018	37,291
Fall 2019	37,631
Fall 2020	38,116
Fall 2021	37,553
Fall 2022	37,080
Fall 2023	37,175
Fall 2024	38,380

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

87%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at University of Houston rose from 79% (Fall 2002) to 87% (Fall 2023).

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	79%
Fall 2003 cohort	77%
Fall 2004 cohort	77%
Fall 2005 cohort	76%
Fall 2006 cohort	77%
Fall 2007 cohort	79%
Fall 2008 cohort	79%
Fall 2009 cohort	82%
Fall 2010 cohort	81%
Fall 2011 cohort	83%
Fall 2012 cohort	85%
Fall 2013 cohort	86%
Fall 2014 cohort	86%
Fall 2015 cohort	85%
Fall 2016 cohort	85%
Fall 2017 cohort	85%
Fall 2018 cohort	85%
Fall 2019 cohort	86%
Fall 2020 cohort	85%
Fall 2021 cohort	85%
Fall 2022 cohort	86%
Fall 2023 cohort	87%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about University of Houston

41.6% of University of Houston's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes University of Houston as a primarily nonresidential campus — most of its 38,380 undergraduates live off campus, and 87% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

University of Houston's SAT section-percentile sums are 1160–1340 — their midpoint is above the TX four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on University of Houston's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How University of Houston compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

University of Houston73.9%

Texas median84.5%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

University of Houston$9,717

Texas median$13,498

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

University of Houston's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

University of Houston$62,377

Texas median$54,132

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

University of Houston, Texas and national reference values
Metric & basis	University of Houston	Texas median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	73.9%	84.5%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$9,717	$13,498	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$62,377	$54,132	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For University of Houston, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

University of Houston federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 58 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Chemical Engineering	$110,184
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	$107,399
Computer Engineering	$107,283
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$98,790
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician	$97,201
Industrial Engineering	$94,814
Petroleum Engineering	$94,651
Mechanical Engineering	$93,275
Management Information Systems and Services	$91,983
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$91,276
Civil Engineering	$89,653
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians	$87,022
Physics	$86,078
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians	$84,692
Accounting and Related Services	$84,668
Computer Systems Analysis	$82,416
Biotechnology	$78,750
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians	$78,396
Economics	$78,204
Finance and Financial Management Services	$78,009
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$73,125
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations	$72,199
Architecture	$70,616
Human Resources Management and Services	$69,010
Chemistry	$68,504
Marketing	$68,139
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences	$68,127
Design and Applied Arts	$64,612
Business/Corporate Communications	$64,374
Mathematics	$62,833
Political Science and Government	$61,533
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology	$61,122
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication	$60,180
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other	$58,705
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	$58,450
Biology, General	$57,716
Music	$56,667
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics	$56,442
Philosophy	$55,875
History	$55,475
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services	$54,871
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General	$54,471
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services	$54,126
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$53,483
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services	$53,410
Hospitality Administration/Management	$53,344
Journalism	$53,195
Psychology, General	$52,892
Computer Software and Media Applications	$51,596
English Language and Literature, General	$49,884
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services	$49,724
Communication and Media Studies	$49,545
Sociology	$45,530
Fine and Studio Arts	$45,446
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	$42,301
Anthropology	$42,146
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication	$40,419
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies	$39,645

These 58 fields listed for University of Houston measure earnings after completion. The $62,377 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 16 additional University of Houston fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does University of Houston report?

University of Houston's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1160–1340 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is University of Houston's acceptance rate?

73.9% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 23,446 admitted from 31,716 applicants.

How much does University of Houston cost?

In-state tuition is $9,717; out-of-state students pay $22,547. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does University of Houston report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $62,377. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Texas

Howard Payne University — 67.4% admitted
Houston Christian University — 84.4% admitted
KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts — 68.2% admitted
Lubbock Christian University — 73.1% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.