University of Houston acceptance rate and your odds of getting in
University of Houston is a public university in Texas that admits most qualified applicants (around 74%), which puts it in the moderately selective range. A rate like this means it admits more applicants than it rejects; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.
Use this page to see what University of Houston weighs, where it ranks among Texas schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1310, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
What do students study at University of Houston?
Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.
Will I get into University of Houston?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of Houston, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into University of Houston?
At University of Houston, your real chance depends on far more than the published 74% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of Houston in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is University of Houston hard to get into?
University of Houston is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 74% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
What GPA do you need to get into University of Houston?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of Houston, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. University of Houston reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
Your chances at University of Houston by GPA and SAT
Estimated chance of admission at University of Houston for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).
What are my chances at University of Houston with a 3.1 GPA and a 1250 SAT?
About 91% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1250 SAT, the middle of University of Houston's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1340 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.
Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/university-of-houston.
How to get into University of Houston
Built from University of Houston's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.
Getting into University of Houston comes down to four decisions, each one visible in the data on this page.
CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at University of Houston carries about a 3.19 core GPA and a 1290 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.
The admitted middle 50% is 1160 to 1340 SAT (23 to 29 ACT). Submit a score at 1250 or higher; below 1160, apply test-optional if the policy allows.
University of Houston rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.
Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by University of Houston's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www.uh.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.
How many students apply to University of Houston, and how many get in?
30,327 students applied to University of Houston for fall 2023; 21,087 were admitted (69.5%). 5,652 enrolled. Only about 27% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. University of Houston enrolls about 38,380 undergraduates in total, 52% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 22 to 1.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for University of Houston?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Houston scored between 1160 and 1340 on the SAT (average 1250). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 23 to 29. A score above 1340 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1160 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. University of Houston is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.
What University of Houston looks for
What University of Houston weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
University of Houston signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from University of Houston's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at University of Houston
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.
How much does University of Houston cost after financial aid?
University of Houston's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $26,185 per year. Tuition and fees are $9,717 for TX residents and $22,547 for out-of-state students, a $12,830 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $14,276 a year, and it ranges from $10,929 for families earning under $30,000 to $23,811 for families earning over $110,000. 42% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.
What do University of Houston graduates earn, and how many graduate?
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of Houston student who received federal aid earns $62,377 a year, up from $52,768 at six years. 65% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 87% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $18,194; 32% of undergraduates take federal loans.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.
How University of Houston compares in Texas
University of Houston ranks #25 most selective of 53 schools in Texas in our database.
Among the 53 Texas schools we track, University of Houston ranks #25 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Rice University (8%) and Trinity University (TX) (26%) sit nearby, which makes Texas a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.
Similar to University of Houston
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
If University of Houston is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Southeast Missouri State University, University at Buffalo, and University of Arkansas. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What is University of Houston's acceptance rate?
University of Houston admitted 21,087 of 30,327 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 69.5% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 27% of admitted students enrolled.
What SAT score do you need for University of Houston?
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1160 to 1340 on the SAT and 23 to 29 on the ACT. A score above 1340 is in the top quarter of admits. University of Houston is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.
Is University of Houston test-optional?
Yes. University of Houston reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.
How much does University of Houston cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Houston, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $14,276 a year against a sticker price of about $26,185. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $10,929 on average.
What do University of Houston graduates earn?
Median earnings ten years after entering University of Houston are $62,377 a year among students who received federal aid, and 65% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).
What does University of Houston value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, University of Houston weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does University of Houston favor in-state applicants?
As a public university, University of Houston generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.
How can I improve my chances at University of Houston?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of Houston specifically.
How does residency affect admission to University of Houston?
As a public university, University of Houston typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.
Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.