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University of Houston

#143 in US ranking Houston, TX
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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University of Houston award
University of Houston award

Cost

Cost / year
$23,250
Tuition & fees
$11,888
Avg. aid
$9,638
Receiving aid
83%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
74%
SAT range
1160–1340
ACT range
23–29

Outcomes

Graduation rate
65%
Median salary
$54,525
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of University of Houston?

The University of Houston is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and professional degrees. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation of an individual degree program.

Some professional programs have additional, field-specific oversight or accreditation - for example, engineering, business, law, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and optometry programs operate within their respective professional accreditation frameworks. Applicants pursuing licensure should verify the specific program's current status and whether it meets the requirements of the state where they intend to practice. Institutional accreditation is relevant to federal financial-aid eligibility and often to transfer-credit review, but it does not require another college to accept every UH course.

What are the admission requirements at University of Houston?

First-year applicants generally submit an undergraduate application, a secondary-school record, and evidence of high school completion or an accepted equivalent. UH is not an open-admission institution: in the reported admissions cycle, it admitted about 74% of first-year applicants.

Academic preparation matters. UH reviews coursework and grades, and individual majors can have additional standards. SAT or ACT treatment can vary by admission route and application cycle, so applicants should check the current freshman admission and assured-admission criteria before deciding whether to send scores. Among enrolled first-time students in the reported data, 55% submitted SAT scores and 7% submitted ACT scores; those shares do not establish a testing requirement. Recommendations may be considered but are not generally required. Applicants whose education does not meet UH's English-proficiency exemption rules may need an accepted English-language test, such as TOEFL.

UH accepts applications through its published undergraduate application channels, with deadlines that differ by entry term and applicant type. Students seeking a selective major, scholarship, or housing should check its separate timeline rather than rely only on the general admission deadline. Advanced Placement credit may be available under UH's score and course-equivalency rules.

What are the application fees and waivers at University of Houston?

The reported undergraduate application fee is $75. Applicants should confirm the fee displayed for their application route and residency or international-applicant category before submitting, because those categories may be charged differently.

Applicants with financial need can review UH's undergraduate fee-waiver instructions and the waiver request offered by their application platform. Eligibility and documentation rules matter: a waiver request is not the same as an automatic waiver, and applicants should arrange it before paying or submitting if the application instructions require that sequence. An application fee is separate from any later enrollment, orientation, housing, or tuition charge.

What types of ROTC programs are available at University of Houston?

UH students have access to Army and Air Force ROTC units on campus. Navy ROTC participation is available through a cooperating host institution rather than a UH-based Navy unit.

ROTC combines college coursework with military training and a potential path to a commission. Participation, scholarship selection, medical and fitness standards, and any resulting service obligation are governed by the relevant military branch; joining a class does not automatically confer a scholarship. Students considering Navy ROTC in particular should confirm cross-enrollment logistics and course travel with the host unit before building a semester schedule.

What are the requirements for transfer students at University of Houston?

UH accepts transfer applications for fall, spring, and summer entry. Transfer admission depends on an applicant's transferable college work, academic record, and intended program; eligibility for admission is separate from whether every previously completed course will count toward a UH degree.

UH's transfer criteria distinguish applicants who have enough transferable college credits to be evaluated primarily as transfers from those who must also meet freshman requirements. Published GPA thresholds and additional requirements can differ by major, so applicants should check the criteria for their entry term and college. Official transcripts from every college attended are normally necessary. UH provides transfer-credit planning and equivalency resources, but an unofficial equivalency search is not a final degree audit. After admission, students should obtain an official evaluation and review it with an academic adviser, especially when a course must satisfy a major prerequisite rather than merely count as an elective. Community-college students can also ask about applicable transfer pathways and limits on credits usable toward their chosen degree.

What types of study abroad programs are available at University of Houston?

UH students can explore study abroad through its Learning Abroad services, including exchange and other approved international programs. Options can range from a short faculty-led experience to a semester or longer abroad, depending on the major, destination, and available programs.

Before committing, students need academic approval for how overseas courses will apply to their degree. Program charges, travel, insurance, and living expenses differ from ordinary campus costs; existing aid does not necessarily cover every expense or every program. Learning Abroad advising can help students compare UH-led opportunities with partner or third-party options, review safety and travel requirements, and identify scholarships or aid rules that apply to a particular program.

University of Houston Admissions Factors

SAT range
1160–1340
4001600
ACT range
23–29
136
Acceptance rate
74%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
74%
Texas
84%
US
78%

27% of admitted students enrolled (6,218 of 23,446)

ACT scores of enrolled students

ACT in range 12-17
ACT in range 18-23
ACT in range 24-29
ACT in range 30-36

University of Houston Admissions

Applicants
Total: 31,716
Admission
Total: 23,446
Enrolled
Total: 6,218
Women
Men

How to Apply to University of Houston

Regular application deadline

June 1

Application fee

$75

Early Decision

No

Early Action

No

University of Houston First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 5,758
Out-of-state: 205
International: 253

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 6,218
Transfer: 4,584

University of Houston Admission Requirements

Median composite SAT score

1235

Median composite ACT score

26

Percent of students submitting ACT scores

7%

Percent of students submitting SAT scores

55%

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

Yes

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Required

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Required

Recommendations

Considered but not required

Formal demonstration of competencies

Considered but not required

Admission test scores

Considered but not required

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

No

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Orientation program

Yes

Disabilities services

Yes

Off-campus study

Yes

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit on campus

ROTC-Navy

ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institution

ROTC-Air Force

ROTC branch unit on campus

Study abroad

Yes

Weekend/evening college

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

Yes

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

University of Houston Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring, Summer

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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