Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Large city

University of Houston

Houston, Texas. 38,380 undergraduates. Admits 74% of applicants.

66%Graduation rate11 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$11,439Average net price per year43% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$68,423Median earnings 10 years after starting16% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$17,250Median debt at graduation20% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($17,250) equals 25% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($68,423).

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$8,468
$30,000–$48,000$8,553
$48,001–$75,000$8,529
$75,001–$110,000$13,799
Over $110,000$21,065

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $9,717 in-state, $22,427 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate66%54%
Return for second year87%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$58,252$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$68,423$58,912
Median debt at graduation$17,250$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

185 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer Engineering45$80,242$119,055$20,988
Chemical Engineering78$90,666$118,641$24,000
Computer and Information Sciences, General435$79,332$112,352$19,000
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering70$93,456$111,515$21,000
Petroleum Engineering13$96,730$104,583—
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician143$81,201$104,011$19,500
Mechanical Engineering190$79,753$100,152$20,500
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing84$85,922$97,055$26,077
Industrial Engineering30$85,212$96,346$16,462
Management Information Systems and Services389$70,785$95,137$15,250
Civil Engineering71$78,027$94,722$18,750
Computer Systems Analysis265$66,400$93,599$21,977
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations41$55,989$93,513$12,000
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians31$75,593$93,026—
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians66$67,840$90,284$21,312
Accounting and Related Services296$66,436$86,895$17,084
Biotechnology85$51,190$81,453$16,500
Business Administration, Management and Operations581$60,191$80,357$15,000
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations1$63,105$80,212—
Finance and Financial Management Services420$62,157$79,316$15,850
Physics18—$78,045—
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians42$52,888$77,191$18,845
Economics129$53,160$76,524$19,475
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences29$46,533$75,238$19,875
Marketing453$53,465$74,346$16,045
Natural Resources Conservation and Research24$47,522$73,559—
Architecture106$58,366$73,558$27,500
Biology, General354$29,347$69,919$17,839
Human Resources Management and Services75$49,657$69,792$20,750
Applied Mathematics5—$68,058—
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology74$39,570$67,288$18,500
Chemistry23$47,623$67,195$22,865
Mathematics65$58,310$65,821$17,778
Design and Applied Arts41$45,608$64,221—
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services134$30,160$63,103$19,500
Political Science and Government202$38,066$62,081$19,000
Communication and Media Studies34$45,595$60,655—
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness368$34,297$60,516$20,255
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General303$41,338$59,890$18,750
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities34$45,000$59,887$24,250
Biomedical/Medical Engineering52$59,725—$18,350
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other229$58,427$58,761$18,750
Hospitality Administration/Management154$43,338$58,613$17,750
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics29$48,617$58,503—
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services46$45,945$58,290$19,500
Psychology, General726$36,612$58,222$19,500
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication137$39,143$58,004$15,000
Music68—$57,743$22,501
Philosophy32—$57,323$19,957
English Language and Literature, General111$38,243$56,931$21,500
History74$47,003$56,629$17,669
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services84$44,097$56,123$21,750
Business/Corporate Communications2—$54,869—
Computer Software and Media Applications107$43,079$53,150$21,232
Journalism53$45,054$52,923$19,250
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services80$36,873$51,940$16,250
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication99—$51,469—
Sociology73$36,719$50,376$19,452
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft28—$49,075—
Anthropology34$34,982$47,745$25,500
Fine and Studio Arts90—$46,918—
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies0—$46,391—
Environmental Design3———
Interior Architecture22———
Area Studies8———
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies9———
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services10———
American Sign Language8———
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General80——$21,250
Religion/Religious Studies1———
Public Policy Analysis4———
Dance10———
Film/Video and Photographic Arts12———
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods108——$22,924

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

74%Admission rate
1,250Average SAT of admitted students
23–29ACT middle 50%
22:1Students per faculty member
47%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does University of Houston cost per year?
The average net price at University of Houston, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $11,439 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do University of Houston graduates earn?
Former University of Houston students earn a median of $68,423 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at University of Houston?
66% of University of Houston students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do University of Houston graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from University of Houston is $17,250. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.