University of Houston is somewhat selective in its admission process. The acceptance rate of University of Houston (UH) is 66.24%. This means that 66 out of every 100 applicants get admitted.
How Competitive are University of Houston Admissions?
- Competitive: Applicants need good academics and extracurriculars.
- GPA, SAT/ACT, and AP/IB courses significantly impact admission chances.
- A holistic review considers essays, recommendations, and leadership roles.
To secure admission, you must convince the admission staff that you are both mentally and physically fit for the course of study. More importantly, your GPA, class performance, SAT/ACT scores, and IB or AP courses can help your application stand out. Additionally, if you do not perform well in one area, you can showcase your strengths in other areas, as the UH is not very strict in its admission process, so improving other areas will help you secure admission.
As the acceptance rate is above 50%, you still have a chance if your GPA is not excellent. You can make up for a lower GPA by scoring high on the SAT, and ACT, and taking IB or AP courses.
Additionally, a well-written letter of recommendation, your participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, and your interpersonal communication skills can enhance your admission chances.
University of Houston Admission Requirements
UH GPA Requirement
The average GPA of the admitted students at UH is 3.46. It means that UH is selective in terms of the GPA. (Please note that most schools report a weighted GPA, which is out of 4.0. However, some schools may use unweighted GPAs. For exact information, contact the school admission staff).
With an average GPA of 3.46, UH requires you to be above average in your class. You need to score more A's than B's in your classes to have good chances of admission. Additionally, you must take AP or IB courses to demonstrate your academic ability. More specifically, your AP and IB courses must be related to the area of your selected course of study. For example, if you are planning a career in engineering or IT, courses related to mathematics, calculus, and physics will help you.
If your GPA is less than 3.46 and higher than 3.16 then you need higher SAT or ACT scores to compensate. You need a minimum of 3.06 GPA, to secure admission at UH. Below this, the chances of admission will be very slim.
Can I Get Into UH Without SAT Or ACT?: University of Houston considers admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process but does not require them. Although it is not strictly a requirement, the test scores are considered for admission decisions. Hence, it is advisable to prepare well for the test and submit the best scores. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. Hence you are required to plan early and appear in upcoming SAT / ACT tests. Check the schedule of the test and plan accordingly. It is advisable to appear multiple times in the test unless you score well above the average SAT / ACT score of the admitted students, as given below.
University of Houston (UH) SAT Requirements
Each school has different requirements for SAT and ACT testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them. The test score policy is already mentioned.
University of Houston Average SAT Score: 1241
The average SAT score of the admitted students at University of Houston is 1241 on the 1600 SAT scale.
University of Houston SAT Competitiveness
This score makes it slightly Competitive for SAT test scores. You need to well to score 1241 on the SAT.
Key Insight:Aim for the 75th percentile (1330 SAT or 29 ACT) to stand out. If your scores are below average, consider retaking the test. University of Houston allows Score Choice for the SAT and Superscoring for the ACT, giving you flexibility to submit your best scores.
If your score is below 1160, you must retake the SAT to improve your chances of admission to UH. It is not strange to appear multiple times for the SAT to improve scores. Colleges don’t mind if you have appeared multiple times, but not more than 5 times.
University of Houston SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 625 | 580 | 670 |
| SAT Reading | 620 | 580 | 660 |
| SAT Composite | 1241 | 1160 | 1330 |
It means that if you have scored less than 1160 then you are below most of the admitted students at UH and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1330 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students. View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1250
Can I get into University of Houston (UH) with a 1350 SAT?
With a 1350 SAT Score, your chances of admission at University of Houston (UH) are good but the admission staff at UH tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.
University of Houston (UH) ACT Requirements
The average ACT Score at UH is 26.
University of Houston ACT Competitiveness
This score makes University of Houston Competitive for ACT scores. You need to do well to score 26 on the ACT.
University of Houston ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 25 | 22 | 27 |
| ACT English | 26 | 22 | 30 |
| ACT Composite | 26 | 23 | 29 |
Can I get into University of Houston with a 29 ACT?
With a 29 ACT Score, your chances of admission at University of Houston are good but the admission staff does not check your ACT Score only. The College Admission process tests your all-around personality and academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission.
SAT Vs ACT: Which score to send
You can compare your scores in SAT and ACT to the average SAT and ACT Scores of the admitted students at University of Houston. More importantly, comparing your scores with the 25th and 75th percentiles of SAT and ACT scores will give you a better understanding of where you stand. If your score on the SAT is near the 75th percentile SAT score, then you must send your SAT score. If your ACT score is near the 75th percentile, then you must send your ACT Score.
But there is more, if both of your scores are in the same range, then it is better to send an ACT Score, as in the case of ACT, you can control which score to send as opposed to SAT.
Here is how: When sending the ACT Score, you can decide which score you want to send to the colleges. You could take 8 ACT tests, and only send your highest one. This is not the case with the SAT, where your score report mentions all of your attempts.
View a list of all colleges with an average ACT score of 26.UH Profile
Name: University of Houston (UH)
Accredited by: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
How much does a degree from UH Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at University of Houston is USD: 24130. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at University of Houston is USD: 13900
How can I get a scholarship?
41.04% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 31.67 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to UH and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At University of Houston, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist UH as your choice in the form.
How much a UH Graduate make?
The average annual salary of the UH graduate after 4-6 years of graduation is USD 62377. An average UH graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4-6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is USD: 40595
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than University of Houston. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower than the requirements of University of Houston, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham-Southern College, AL | 1218 | 26 |
| University of Mobile | University of Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| Samford University | Samford University, AL | 1227 | 26 |
| University of Arizona | University of Arizona, AZ | 1229 | 25 |
| John Brown University | John Brown University, AR | 1218 | 26 |
| Dominican University of California | Dominican University of California, CA | 1192 | 24 |
| University of Redlands | University of Redlands, CA | 1215 | 28 |
| Whittier College | Whittier College, CA | 1231 | 27 |
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins | Colorado State University-Fort Collins, CO | 1199 | 26 |
| University of Hartford | University of Hartford, CT | 1201 | 26 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as University of Houston. If your SAT or ACT score are competitive for University of Houston, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hendrix College | Hendrix College, AR | 1246 | 27 |
| Biola University | Biola University, CA | 1250 | 27 |
| Whittier College | Whittier College, CA | 1231 | 27 |
| Eckerd College | Eckerd College, FL | 1238 | 27 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach, FL | 1237 | 26 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than University of Houston. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL | 1291 | 27 |
| The University of Alabama | The University of Alabama, AL | 1304 | 27 |
| Auburn University | Auburn University, AL | 1292 | 27 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott, AZ | 1278 | 28 |
| Chapman University | Chapman University, CA | 1316 | 29 |
Degree Programs
Bachelor Degree Programs
- Accounting and Related Services
- American Sign Language
- Anthropology
- Applied Mathematics
- Architecture
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
- Biology, General
- Biomedical/Medical Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Business Administration, Management and Operations
Full list of All degree programs offered by University of Houston.
Data on this page is sourced from IPEDS, College Scorecard's latest data as provided in 2024, US Department of Education's latest 2024 statistics, Institute's official websites and printed material as well as additional publicly available sources.