University of Houston

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Rankings & Lists

School Says - General Information
Founded in 1927, the University of Houston is the leading public research university in the vibrant international city of Houston. Each year, we educate more than 37,000 students in more than 300 undergraduate and graduate academic programs, on campus and online. UH awards more than 6,500 degrees annually, with nearly 200,000 alumni.

The University of Houston is the second most ethnically diverse major research university in the United States. Students come to UH from more than 137 nations and from across the nation. Our student body comprises more than 37,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

School Says - Student Body
With more than 400 student organizations and 16 intercollegiate sports teams, life at UH is active and lively. About 4,000 students live on campus in residence halls, apartments and townhouses.

School Says - Academics
The Honors College provides the advantages of a small community amid the rich and diverse settings of a large, urban university. In addition to exclusive amenities and special privileges, our students benefit from a dynamic learning environment and one-on-one mentoring from world-renowned faculty. Through a challenging and well-balanced curriculum, our students learn both the skills they will need for professional success, and how and when to apply them.

School Says - Admissions
Freshman Admissions Requirements:
- If your admissions file is complete by December 1, 2010, and you rank in the top 10 percent of your high school class, congratulations- you are admitted.*
- If your admissions file is complete by December 1, 2010, and you rank in the top 11-20 percent of your high school class, congratulations- you are admitted.*
- If your admissions file is complete by December 1, 2010, and you rank in the 21-50 percent of your high school class with SAT of 1000 (critical reading and math) or ACT composite of 21, congratulations - you are admitted.*
- If your admissions file is complete after December 1, 2010, or you attend a school that doesn't rank, you will be considered for admission under our individual/holistic review process based on the following:
- first-generation college attendance - socio-economic background
- extent and rigor of your high school curriculum
- special talents, abilities or awards earned
- family responsibilities
- leadership activities
- public service
- extracurricular activities
* Students applying after December 1, 2010, are subject to individual review, which may not guarantee admission except to those students in the top 10 percent.

Transfer Admissions Requirements:
- Applicants who have completed between 15 and 29 semester hours of college-level credit must have a 2.50 or higher cumulative grade point average*.
- Applicants who have completed 30 or more semester hours of college credit must have a 2.00 or higher cumulative grade point average.*
- Admission will be granted to applicants who have earned an associate of science or associate of art degree from the last school attended as long as the school is a U.S. regionally accredited school. Official transcripts must be received from all previously attended institutions.
- Applicants who are not eligible to return immediately to the last institution attended will not be admitted.
* All grades earned from college-level courses, including repeated courses, are used in computing the grade point average. All colleges attended must be U.S. regionally accredited.

Freshman International Admissions Requirements:
If you have never attended a college or university and have completed the equivalent of 12 years or more of elementary and secondary schooling, you'll be considered as a freshman applicant. If you are a international student graduating from a United States accredited high school, you must meet the admissions requirements for U.S. freshmen.
Admission as an international freshman is based on:
- At least a B average in all academic studies, and
- A minimum score of 550 on the TOEFL paper exam or 79 on the internet-based exam.If you have completed more than one year of full-time, university-level study overseas at a non-U.S. accredited institution, you must meet the following criteria:
Transfer International Admissions Requirements:
Transfer admission is based solely on your completed university record and your TOEFL results. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 (C+) is required (4.0 = A, 3.0 = B and 2.0 = C). For those educational systems that do not have a higher or lower division (+ or -) in the grading scale, a cumulative grade of B is required. The minimum required score on the TOEFL is 550 on the paper exam or 79 on the internet-based exam. TOEFL requirement is not waived unless the student meets an exemption.

For transfer students that have completed community college or university-level work at a U.S. institution, you must meet the admissions criteria for domestic transfer students. Click here for more information on transfer admissions requirements.

School Says - Campus Life
In the midst of a bustling international city, the University of Houston's 667-acre campus is a lush, green oasis. Fountains and sculptures adorn the grounds, while manicured lawns and tree-filled parks offer breathing room.

At the same time, the campus offers all the amenities and high-tech facilities required by modern university life; in the past few years, UH has made more than $220 million in campus improvements.

School Says - Cost Aid
Resident Tuition & Fees (estimated annual cost based on 15 hours taken per semester in Fall and Spring)
Budget Category Estimated Cost
Tuition and Fees: $8,532
Room and Board: $7,886
Total: $16,418

Non-Resident Tuition & Fees (estimated annual cost based on 15 hours taken per semester in Fall and Spring)
Budget Category Estimated Cost
Tuition and Fees: $14,108
Room and Board: $7,886
Total: $21,994
Additional fees, such as laboratory fees, course fees, parking, and so on, are not included on the schedule of charges.The University of Houston believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue an education. That's why we offer a wide array of financial aid packages such as grants, loans, and work study programs, to help students invest in their future. That said, funds are limited, and the financial aid process can take up to six weeks, so planning ahead is crucial!

Students Say - Academics
"The University of Houston, "a commuter school serving a large metropolitan city," benefits from "the unique diversity of Houston" that brings "a wide range of students in both ethnicity and competence" to the campus. Top programs here include an "excellent" school of engineering," a "bad-ass" creative writing program, a "good business school," a "pre-pharmacy program attached to a really good pharmacy school," an "incredible school of music," and "one of the best" hotel and restaurant management programs anywhere. The university's "abundance of resources" includes "a marvelous library with excellent research avenues" and "an Honors program that feels like a small private college while still retaining the benefits of the larger university." Incoming students should be aware that "It's sink or swim; nobody tries to mommy you," so "just do whatever it takes to get by.""

Students Say - Campus Life
""UH is fun," but "if you don't live on campus it's really hard to connect to anyone." And since "almost everyone is a commuter," this is a common complaint. Students who do find connections in the campus community say that "There are many things to get involved in....it's just a matter of what you like. Students are frequently involved in numerous organizations, take dance classes, or go to the gym to work out." Other students show school pride by supporting UH athleticsâ€""We love football season (what university doesn't?)â€"and still others join one of the university's "large variety of Greek organizations." The school is "conveniently located in the center of Houston," so off-campus fun is easy to find. Students warn, though, that "You probably have to drive a lot to get there or ride Metro, but you can do anything. We have good food, plenty of clubs, theaters, museums, and bars.""

Students Say - Student Body
""There isn't really such a thing as a typical student at University of Houston," as "a diverse population is one of the university's prime strengths." That said, "Most students here are from Texas, especially from the Houston area, and are some form of ‘minority,' whether it be ethnically or socially." Also, UH "is known as a commuter community because many students are either older professionals or traditional students who live at home. Students of all types are welcome, and the campus is really very ethnically diverse." As one undergrad notes, "The only thing that is common to any random selection of students is that they are all quite friendly to people they do not even know and are open to conversation with strangers…. The community that is present in a school as large as this is hard to understand until you are really here and have random people offer to help you carry your books or find your way.""

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