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University of Houston
University of Houston says yes to 73.9% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $62,377 median earnings.
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University of Houston sits in Houston proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. International students are a visible presence here — 5.4% of undergraduates come from outside the U.S.
Its highest-earning path is Chemical Engineering, where graduates median $110,184 four years out. 41.6% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 38,380 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 87% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1150 and 1330 — above the TX middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of Houston's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Houston received 30,327 applications and admitted 21,087 (69.5%), with 5,652 enrolling.
You can apply to University of Houston without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1150 and 1330; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 580 | 620 | 660 |
| SAT Math | 570 | 610 | 670 |
| ACT Composite | 23 | 25 | 28 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How University of Houston compares
| University of Houston | Texas median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 73.9% | 84.4% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $9,717 | $13,498 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $62,377 | $54,132 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors University of Houston: $62,377 median at year ten, versus $54,132 across Texas institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $9,717 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $22,547. For non-residents, University of Houston's $22,547 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
University of Houston is a big school: 38,380 undergraduates at last count.
64.6% graduate within six years. Roughly 35% don't — ask a University of Houston tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at University of Houston
| Bachelor's program | 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 |
Median earnings for these 58 University of Houston programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $62,377 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 16 additional University of Houston programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Houston?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1150–1330 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 73.9% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of Houston's acceptance rate?
69.5% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 21,087 admitted from 30,327 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 do University of Houston graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $62,377 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
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: 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.