University of Houston acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
University of Houston · Public · Houston, TX · 37,946 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
University of Houston admitted 69.5% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 58.4% in 2013. Texas residents pay $9,717 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $22,427.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 58.4% | 17,407 | 10,167 |
| 2014 | 63.0% | 17,328 | 10,915 |
| 2015 | 59.7% | 17,971 | 10,732 |
| 2016 | 58.5% | 19,860 | 11,627 |
| 2017 | 61.1% | 20,768 | 12,691 |
| 2018 | 62.3% | 22,461 | 14,002 |
| 2019 | 65.0% | 25,393 | 16,500 |
| 2020 | 62.8% | 28,645 | 17,986 |
| 2021 | 65.5% | 29,721 | 19,474 |
| 2022 | 66.2% | 29,783 | 19,728 |
| 2023 | 69.5% | 30,327 | 21,087 |
Applications went from 17,407 in fall 2013 to 30,327 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $8,468 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $8,553 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $8,529 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $13,799 |
| Over $110,000 | $21,065 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $9,717 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $22,427 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $23,250 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $11,439 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 51% submitted the SAT, 7% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Tech TX | 70.9% | $11,852 in-state |
| UNT TX | 72.5% | $11,309 in-state |
| UT Dallas TX | 65.5% | $14,664 in-state |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
Of the 30,327 people who applied to the University of Houston for fall 2023, 21,087 received an offer, which gives a rate of 69.5%.1 That is an increase of 11.1 percentage points from the 58.4% of fall 2013.1 The rate went down in only 3 of the 10 yearly comparisons.1 Admitted students grew 107% over the span, outpacing the 74% growth in applications.1 The entering class grew from 3,434 to 5,652.1
Tests are optional, and the middle 50% of reported scores in 2023 spanned 580 to 660 on SAT reading and writing, 570 to 670 on SAT math, and 23 to 28 on the ACT.1
Texas residents pay $9,717 for tuition and fees in 2025-26, a little under the $9,727 median of 36 public bachelor's colleges in the state, while non-residents pay $22,427.2 Net price was nearly flat for the lower income bands in 2024-25: $8,468 for $0 to $30,000 and $8,529 for $48,001 to $75,000, rising to $21,065 over $110,000.2
Of 2019 entrants, 66% graduated within 6 years, well above the 45% state median across 89 colleges.2 Pell grants reached 47% of undergraduates, median earnings were $68,423 10 years after entry, and median debt for borrowers was $17,250.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 30,327 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 21,087 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 5,652 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 37,946 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 580 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 660 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 570 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 670 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 23 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 28 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 51% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 7% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $9,717 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $22,427 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $23,250 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $11,439 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $8,468 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $8,553 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $8,529 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $13,799 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $21,065 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 66% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 87% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 47% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $68,423 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $17,250 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, Texas (N = 36) | $9,727 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, Texas (N = 89) | 45% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with University of Houston, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page