University of Houston
University of Houston — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Houston at a Glance
The University of Houston is a public research university in Houston, Texas, United States. It was established in 1927 as Houston Junior College, a coeducational institution and one of multiple junior colleges formed in the first decades of the 20th century. In 1934, HJC was restructured as a four-year degree-granting institution and renamed University of Houston. In 1977, it became the founding member of the University of Houston System. Today, Houston is the third-largest university in Texas, …
1927
99 years old
$2.7B
US$2.687 billion ( US$1.337 billion endowment (FY2025) + UH's TUF share: approximately US$1.35 billion )
48,950
39,837 undergrad · 9,113 grad
3,517
895 acres
Identity
Is University of Houston Worth It?
University of Houston delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $14,276/year, it's priced 30% below average, while graduates go on to earn $62,377 — 16% above the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.9 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 65% graduation rate means roughly 35% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Bottom line: University of Houston delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How University of Houston compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in TX
Ranked #8 of 26 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 100 | $11,531 | $71,902 |
| #2 | University of Illinois Chicago | 95 | $10,974 | $68,740 |
| #3 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #4 | University of California-Riverside | 90 | $14,304 | $67,699 |
| #5 | University of Delaware | 82 | $17,799 | $72,950 |
| #6 | Indiana University-Bloomington | 79 | $16,264 | $63,742 |
| #8 | University of Houston | 71 | $14,276 | $62,377 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Houston's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 3 in TX.
Best Programs at University of Houston
The highest-earning program at University of Houston is Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at $70,800/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at $20,300/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduate from University of Houston earns $70,800, while a Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduate earns $20,300. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduates carry $24,250 in median debt vs. $21,750 for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $14,276/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $70,800 | $70,800 | $24,250 |
| Industrial Engineering | $70,600 | $70,600 | $13,536 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $68,700 | $68,700 | $21,826 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $68,600 | $68,600 | $10,375 |
| Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $65,800 | $65,800 | $27,609 |
| Construction Engineering Technologies | $63,800 | $63,800 | $21,585 |
| Civil Engineering | $63,200 | $63,200 | $18,095 |
| Information Science/Studies | $61,500 | $61,500 | N/A |
| Petroleum Engineering | $58,700 | $58,700 | $27,208 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $56,800 | $56,800 | $18,802 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $55,700 | $55,700 | $14,600 |
| Computer Systems Analysis | $55,500 | $55,500 | $20,000 |
| Chemical Engineering | $53,300 | $53,300 | $22,343 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $50,100 | $50,100 | $22,079 |
| Music | $49,200 | $49,200 | $27,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $49,000 | $49,000 | $17,856 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $48,200 | $48,200 | $20,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $47,800 | $47,800 | $18,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $46,900 | $46,900 | $16,500 |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | $46,300 | $46,300 | $21,827 |
| Architecture | $46,200 | $46,200 | $20,642 |
| Mathematics | $45,800 | $45,800 | $20,938 |
| Chemistry | $45,400 | $45,400 | $17,625 |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $42,800 | $42,800 | $23,577 |
| Marketing | $42,100 | $42,100 | $17,625 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $41,200 | $41,200 | $22,849 |
| Business/Corporate Communications | $39,400 | $39,400 | $25,000 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $39,200 | $39,200 | $19,250 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $38,700 | $38,700 | $26,398 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $37,600 | $37,600 | $20,500 |
| Sociology | $37,100 | $37,100 | $19,980 |
| Political Science and Government | $36,200 | $36,200 | $19,500 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $35,900 | $35,900 | $21,250 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $35,800 | $35,800 | $22,152 |
| Economics | $34,900 | $34,900 | $18,202 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $34,000 | $34,000 | $21,500 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $33,700 | $33,700 | $25,450 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $33,500 | $33,500 | $20,733 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $33,500 | $33,500 | $23,125 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $32,900 | $32,900 | $21,375 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services | $32,900 | $32,900 | $24,000 |
| Biotechnology | $32,300 | $32,300 | $23,000 |
| Psychology, General | $30,600 | $30,600 | $20,133 |
| Anthropology | $30,500 | $30,500 | $19,569 |
| History | $30,000 | $30,000 | $19,500 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $29,100 | $29,100 | $18,750 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $29,100 | $29,100 | N/A |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $28,300 | $28,300 | $21,768 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $28,200 | $28,200 | $19,500 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $28,000 | $28,000 | $18,881 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $27,900 | $27,900 | $13,750 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $27,100 | $27,100 | $20,000 |
| Journalism | $26,400 | $26,400 | $21,500 |
| Biology, General | $25,200 | $25,200 | $17,500 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $23,800 | $23,800 | $22,625 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $20,300 | $20,300 | $21,750 |
Similar Colleges in TX
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Houston, TX
- Student Body
- 38,380 students
- Admission Rate
- 74%
- Graduation Rate
- 65%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $14,276
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $62,377
- Median Student Debt
- $18,194