Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Houston-Downtown #74 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Houston-Downtown #89 for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Houston-Downtown #61 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Houston-Downtown converts broad access into measurable upward mobility, placing it among the stronger-performing institutions in the nonprofit four-year institutions for turning open-door enrollment into real economic progress. Graduates earn median $60,550 four years after enrollment, placing University of Houston-Downtown in the 45.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — a result that reflects the institution's business-focused program mix and Houston's deep labor market.
Azimuth ranks University of Houston-Downtown #74 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Houston, TX, University of Houston-Downtown enrolls roughly 12,555 undergraduates. Retention stands at 67.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 33.2%, figures that reflect the realities of an open-access urban institution serving a large share of working and nontraditional students. What anchors University of Houston-Downtown in the composite is mobility. The university sits in the 95.9 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by strong outcomes for the low-income and first-generation students who make up a substantial share of the student body — 55.2% receive Pell Grants and 52.7% are first-generation. Access reinforces that strength: University of Houston-Downtown sits in the 94.1 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, with an admission rate of 90.0% that keeps the door open to students from a wide range of backgrounds. Business is the dominant program family, aligning the university's degree output with Houston's broad employer base. Return on investment is the lower-ranked pillar in the composite — Azimuth ranks University of Houston-Downtown #540 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 63.6 percentile. Graduates earn about $9,613 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Houston-Downtown in the 85.1 percentile for among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $60,550, below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions — though those earnings represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree-equivalent baseline of $31,626 in TX. Affordability sits in the 92.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a public-tuition structure that keeps costs accessible for the population the university serves.
University of Houston-Downtown prices accessibly across income levels, making it one of the more affordable entry points in the Azimuth coverage set. Low-income families pay approximately $9,439 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $11,247, and higher-income families pay closer to $19,380. Azimuth ranks University of Houston-Downtown #110 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The gap between sticker price and what most students actually pay reflects the university's broad participation in federal, state, and institutional aid programs; the net price illusion is real here, and the net figures are the more meaningful starting point for family planning. Need-based aid reaches a substantial share of the student body, consistent with the university's high Pell enrollment. The published cost of attendance is $20,749, but most low- and middle-income families pay well below that figure after grants and scholarships are applied. Aid packages are primarily need-based, drawing on Pell Grants, state aid, and institutional funds; families apply through the FAFSA. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands, so individual packages will vary above and below the figures shown. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,750, compared with a peer median of $19,976 — a meaningful gap that reflects the university's low net price structure and the tendency of many students to limit borrowing. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $10,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes those decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $60,550, median federal debt of $18,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $212 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Houston-Downtown is a strong fit for students in the Houston, TX area who want an affordable, accessible path into business, applied, and professional fields at a public institution that delivers solid post-graduation earnings relative to what students bring in. Graduates earn in the 45.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and University of Houston-Downtown sits in the 85.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $9,613 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students weighing the financial return on a degree from a regional public university. The access profile is broad. 55.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 52.7% are first-generation college students — among the highest shares in the Azimuth coverage set — and the institution's completion outcomes for Pell-eligible students run at 48.4%, making University of Houston-Downtown a realistic and financially grounded option for cost-sensitive and first-generation families. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes; and students who need to borrow should weigh median debt of $18,750 against the earnings trajectory for their intended field before committing.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
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This is the University Of Houston-Downtown hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Houston-Downtown prices accessibly across income levels, making it one of the more affordable entry points in the Azimuth coverage set. Low-income families pay approximately $9,439 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $11,247, and higher-income families pay closer to $19,380.
Azimuth ranks University of Houston-Downtown #110 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The gap between sticker price and what most students actually pay reflects the university's broad participation in federal, state, and institutional aid programs; the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is real here, and the net figures are the more meaningful starting point for family planning.
Need-based aid reaches a substantial share of the student body, consistent with the university's high Pell enrollment. The published cost of attendance is $20,749, but most low- and middle-income families pay well below that figure after grants and scholarships are applied.
Aid packages are primarily need-based, drawing on Pell Grants, state aid, and institutional funds; families apply through the FAFSA. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands, so individual packages will vary above and below the figures shown.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,750, compared with a peer median of $19,976 — a meaningful gap that reflects the university's low net price structure and the tendency of many students to limit borrowing. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $10,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes those decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $60,550, median federal debt of $18,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $212 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of Houston-Downtown earn median 4-year earnings of $60,550, placing the institution in the 45.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,613 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Houston-Downtown in the 85.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Houston-Downtown #540 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 63.6 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects University of Houston-Downtown's concentration in Business fields, which account for 35% of graduates. Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other is the largest program with 722 graduates earning median earnings of $59,924, and Azimuth ranks the program #14 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Azimuth ranks Business Administration, Management and Operations #167 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 272 graduates earning $69,712, and Accounting and Related Services ranks #137 nationally with 272 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $67,499.
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians
16 graduates
Insurance
20 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
118 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
272 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
272 graduates
University of Houston-Downtown's program mix is anchored in Business, which accounts for 35% of degree output — a concentration that shapes the institution's overall earnings profile and employer connections in the Houston metro. Social Sciences represents 2% of graduates and other STEM fields accounts for 1%, rounding out an applied-professional portfolio across 38 programs serving roughly 3,280 students annually.
The largest program by cohort is Interdisciplinary Studies with 722 graduates, followed by Business Administration (272 graduates) and Accounting (272 graduates). The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied and technical fields.
Azimuth ranks Artificial Intelligence #176 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $72,528. Azimuth ranks Business Administration #168 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $69,712.
Accounting adds further depth, with Azimuth ranking the program #134 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions and graduates earning $67,499. Interdisciplinary Studies combines strong enrollment scale with solid pay, making it a key driver of the institution's aggregate return.
The program portfolio reflects University of Houston-Downtown's positioning as an access-oriented urban public university in one of the country's largest job markets. Business and applied-professional fields feed directly into Houston's finance, energy, and healthcare sectors — industries where supply and demand for college graduates remain favorable.
Programs like Criminal Justice and Psychology, General serve large cohorts and connect graduates to stable local employment pathways. For details on how Azimuth evaluates programs, see the methodology overview.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Virginia-Main Campus Similar quality tier (#4184 ranked) | VA | 17% | $86,863 | #4184 | Compare |
Louisiana State University And Agricultural & Mechanical College Similar quality tier in Southwest (#4186 ranked) | LA | 73% | $61,251 | #4186 | Compare |
Wayne State University Similar quality tier (#4187 ranked) | MI | 81% | $53,493 | #4187 | Compare |
University Of Nevada-Las Vegas Similar quality tier in Southwest (#4180 ranked) | NV | 96% | $55,037 | #4180 | Compare |
University Of Washington-Seattle Campus Similar quality tier (#4179 ranked) | WA | 39% | $78,466 | #4179 | Compare |
