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.
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Net prices are averages and may vary. Based on federal data for first-time, full-time students receiving aid.
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) | $26,185 |
| Tuition and Fees | $22,547 |
| Room and Board | $11,286 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,430 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$11,909 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $14,276 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $10,929 |
| $30–48k | $10,220 |
| $48–75k | $12,528 |
| $75–110k | $19,197 |
| $110k+ | $23,811 |
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 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 .
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt-to-earnings data not available.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
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 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 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 , 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.
