Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Houston #13 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn in the 71.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and University of Houston sits in the 88.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Accounting #61 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning median $84,668 — a program-level signal anchoring the institution's broad return profile. --- Students at University of Houston earn about $12,021 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university among the stronger performers for earnings beyond expectations in the nonprofit four-year institutions coverage set. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $68,091, and the institution's highest-return program — Accounting, ranked #61 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions — anchors an earnings profile that holds up across the university's broad, business-anchored program mix.
Azimuth ranks University of Houston #13 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Houston, TX, University of Houston enrolls roughly 38,380 undergraduates. Retention stands at 87.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 64.6%, providing a baseline measure of how reliably the institution converts enrollment into degree completion. The composite is anchored by strong return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of Houston #312 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $68,091, and earn about $12,021 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Houston in the 88.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business is the dominant program family, and the university's broad degree output in business, engineering, and health-related fields helps explain why graduates consistently land at earnings levels above what comparable institutions produce. Access and mobility round out the profile. University of Houston admits about 73.9% of applicants, and 41.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants while 40.5% are first-generation college students — figures that place the institution in the 94.2 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mobility sits in the 99.7 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting solid low-income graduate outcomes relative to the broad-access student body the university serves. Affordability sits in the 84.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, shaped by public-tuition pricing and need-based aid that narrows the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Named student-support infrastructure includes Technology Bridge, per the university's student services page.
University of Houston's published cost of attendance is $26,185, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $10,929 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $12,528, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at approximately $23,811. Azimuth ranks University of Houston #226 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of cost for students who qualify. University of Houston offers work-study as part of its aid structure, per the financial aid page, alongside named scholarship and fellowship programs — including institutional awards and external scholarship resources — that can reduce out-of-pocket costs further. Families seeking to understand the gap between published cost and actual net price can explore how net price and sticker price differ substantially before drawing conclusions from the headline figure. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,194, compared with a peer median of $19,976, suggesting graduates borrow at a level broadly in line with comparable institutions. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,072; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $68,091, median federal debt of $18,194 projects to a monthly payment of about $206 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Houston is a strong fit for students drawn to business, engineering, and applied professional fields who want an urban research university experience in Houston, TX — particularly those who want access to one of the country's most dynamic regional labor markets without the cost of higher-priced private institutions. Graduates earn median $68,091 four years after enrollment, placing University of Houston in the 71.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and University of Houston sits in the 88.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $12,021 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a signal that the university delivers measurable post-graduation value relative to comparable institutions. University of Houston enrolls a large share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 41.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 40.5% are first-generation — and low-income graduates sit in the 86.2 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure, making it a compelling option for students from lower-income backgrounds seeking durable financial outcomes. The institution also names Technology Bridge among its student-support programs, per the university's student services page, which may be relevant for students entering technical and applied fields. 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 $18,194 against their expected earnings trajectory before enrolling.
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.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the University Of Houston 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's published cost of attendance is $26,185, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $10,929 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $12,528, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at approximately $23,811.
Azimuth ranks University of Houston #226 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of cost for students who qualify. University of Houston offers work-study as part of its aid structure, per the financial aid page, alongside named scholarship and fellowship programs — including institutional awards and external scholarship resources — that can reduce out-of-pocket costs further.
Families seeking to understand the gap between published cost and actual net price can explore how [net price and sticker price differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) before drawing conclusions from the headline figure. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,194, compared with a peer median of $19,976, suggesting graduates borrow at a level broadly in line with comparable institutions.
Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,072; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $68,091, median federal debt of $18,194 projects to a monthly payment of about $206 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 earn median earnings of $68,091 four years after enrollment, placing University of Houston in the 71.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits above the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $12,021 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 88.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Houston #312 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Low-income graduates earn median earnings of $60,200 on a [historical ten-year Scorecard measure](/analysis/college-scorecard-2026-4-year-vs-10-year-earnings-2-2/) not yet updated to the four-year horizon, placing this cohort in the 86.2 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects University of Houston's strength in applied and professional fields.
Business is the dominant program family, with Business accounting for 28% of degrees, Engineering for 7%, and Social Sciences for 6%. Business Administration combines the largest cohort scale with strong earnings, making it a key driver of the university's overall return profile.
Azimuth ranks Psychology, General #115 among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 605 graduates earning median earnings of $52,892 four years after enrollment. Azimuth ranks Business Administration #92 among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 543 graduates earning median earnings of $73,125.
Azimuth ranks Finance #74 among nonprofit four-year institutions with 412 graduates earning median earnings of $78,009, while Kinesiology ranks #70 among nonprofit four-year institutions with median earnings of $53,483. The Bauer College of Business offers joint degrees and specialized tracks in data analytics and data management, per the curriculum page — pathways that correspond to the strong applied-business earnings the data reflects.
Chemical Engineering
74 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
84 graduates
Computer Engineering
30 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
318 graduates
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
191 graduates
University of Houston's program mix is anchored in Business, which accounts for 28% of graduates, followed by Engineering at 7% and Social Sciences at 6%. Psychology, General is the largest program with 605 graduates, followed by Business Administration (543 graduates), Finance (412 graduates), Kinesiology (404 graduates), and Biology, General (388 graduates).
Across 69 programs serving roughly 8,136 students annually, 57 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. The strongest earnings come from quantitative and applied fields.
Azimuth ranks Artificial Intelligence #50 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $98,790. Azimuth ranks Management Information Systems and Services #14 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $91,983, and Azimuth ranks Accounting #61 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $84,668.
Business Administration combines high enrollment with strong pay — Azimuth ranks it #115 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $52,892. The Bauer College of Business offers specialized tracks including Data Analytics and Data Management, per the curriculum page.
The Rockwell Career Center supports employer recruitment across these business programs. For context on [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), see the methodology overview.
Several of University of Houston's high-earning programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the national labor market directly — particularly engineering, computer science, and applied business fields where four-year earnings reflect workforce outcomes. The [supply-demand map for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides additional context for how the institution's dominant program families align with national labor-market demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cuny Hunter College Similar quality tier (#18 ranked) | NY | 54% | $63,163 | #18 | Compare |
San Jose State University Similar quality tier (#20 ranked) | CA | 85% | $78,988 | #20 | Compare |
Texas A&M University-College Station Similar quality tier in Southwest (#21 ranked) | TX | 57% | $72,097 | #21 | Compare |
The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley Similar quality tier in Southwest (#22 ranked) | TX | 94% | $49,620 | #22 | Compare |
California State University-Northridge Similar quality tier (#16 ranked) | CA | 93% | $59,115 | #16 | Compare |
