In-state vs. out-of-state tuition at UH
The University of Houston charges $9,717 a year in published tuition and fees for Texas residents, about $4,858 a semester, and $22,547 a year for students from other states, about $11,274 a semester. That is a difference of $12,830 a year. About 3% of first-year students came from out of state. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state tuition at 100 public universities →
What makes UH different
- First-generation students. More than 45% of UH students are first-generation, and programs like the Challenger Program and a first-gen living-learning community support them.
- An honors college with a debate tradition. The Honors College pairs a small, close-knit community with a big university, and runs one of the largest debate programs in the country.
- Clear admission pathways. UH offers assured admission to students in the top 10% of their class, with a 3.5 GPA, or with a 1250 SAT or 26 ACT.
What UH students study
The most common bachelor's degrees (class of 2024): psychology (718), computer and information sciences (430), finance (381), marketing (373), management information systems (354) and biology (342). Source: IPEDS Completions, first majors only.
You may thrive at UH if…
- You'd like a big-city university with a diverse student body.
- You're the first in your family to go to college.
- You're interested in business, computing, engineering or health.
Worth asking about
- Which majors have extra admission requirements?
- What support do first-generation students get in the first year?
How UH compares with the other Big 12 schools
UH joined the Big 12 in 2023, along with BYU, Cincinnati and UCF. See how the 16 Big 12 schools differ.
FAQ
What is the University of Houston's acceptance rate? 75.8% for fall 2025: 26,312 of 34,728 first-year applicants were admitted, according to its Common Data Set 2025–26. Source For fall 2024 it was 73.9%.
What is UH's out-of-state acceptance rate? 62.3% for fall 2025, compared with 77.5% for Texas residents. UH admitted 3,033 of 4,866 out-of-state applicants and 21,788 of 28,115 Texas residents, according to UH's Common Data Set for 2025–26. Source International applicants are counted separately. Out-of-state tuition and fees are $22,547 a year before aid; you may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state acceptance rates at public universities →
How much is UH tuition per semester? About $4,858 a semester for Texas residents and $11,274 for out-of-state students, based on published yearly tuition and fees of $9,717 and $22,547 before aid.
Is UH an R1 university? Yes. In the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, the University of Houston is an R1 university, the group with the highest research spending and doctoral degrees. What R1 means →
How many students go to UH? About 38,400 undergraduates (fall 2024).
What is UH known for? Its Houston location, support for first-generation students, and business and engineering programs.
How much does UH cost? Published tuition and fees are $9,717 a year in-state and $22,547 out-of-state, before any aid.
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