University of Houston: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

M.D. Anderson Library at the University of Houston

Katie Haugland Bowen / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

The University of Houston is a large public university with an acceptance rate of 65%. Founded in 1927, U of H is today the flagship campus of the four-campus University of Houston system. The university offers over 100 major and minor programs for undergraduates, and business is particularly popular. Academics are supported by a 22-to-1 student/faculty ratio. Many students take advantage of the University of Houston's urban location to engage in internships in the city. The university has a chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa honor society for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences. On the athletic front, the Houston Cougars compete in the NCAA Division I American Athletic Conference.

Considering applying to the University of Houston? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, the University of Houston had an acceptance rate of 65%. This means for every 100 students who applied, 65 students were admitted, making University of Houston's admissions process somewhat competitive.

Admissions Statistics (2018-19)
Number of Applicants 25,393
Percent Admitted 65%
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 33%

SAT Scores and Requirements

University of Houston requires that all applications submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 88% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

SAT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
ERW 570 650
Math 570 660
ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

This admissions data tells us that most of University of Houston's admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to U of H scored between 570 and 650, while 25% scored below 570 and 25% scored above 650. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 570 and 660, while 25% scored below 560 and 25% scored above 660. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1310 or greater will have particularly competitive chances at the University of Houston.

Requirements

The University of Houston does not require the SAT writing section, nor does the university require SAT Subject tests. That said, students are welcome to submit subject test scores, and they may be used for placement purposes. The university does not superscore the SAT; your highest total score from a single test date will be considered.

ACT Scores and Requirements

University of Houston requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 36% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

ACT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
English 21 27
Math 21 27
Composite 22 27

This admissions data tells us that most of University of Houston's admitted students fall within the top 36% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to U of H received a composite ACT score between 22 and 27, while 25% scored above 27 and 25% scored below 22.

Requirements

University of Houston students are not required to take the ACT Plus Writing, nor are students who take the ACT required to take any SAT Subject tests. Note that University of Houston does not superscore ACT results; your highest composite ACT score from a single test date will be considered.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA for incoming University of Houston freshmen was 3.73, and over 64% of all incoming students had a GPA of 3.75 or higher. These results suggest that most successful applicants to University of Houston have primarily A grades.

Class rank can also play a significant role in the admissions process, and Texas students who are ranked in the top 10% of their high school class have assured admission to Texas public universities. In 2019, 32% of incoming University of Houston students ranked in the top 10% of their high school class, and 64% were in the top 25%.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

University of Houston Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph.
University of Houston Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to the University of Houston. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

University of Houston, which accepts over half of applicants, has a somewhat selective admissions process. If your SAT/ACT scores and GPA fall within the school's average ranges, you have a strong chance of being accepted. However, University of Houston is interested in more than test scores and GPAs. The university uses the Common Application and the ApplyTexas application to gather information about your high school coursework and extracurricular activities. The admissions office wants to see that you have taken challenging college preparatory classes and have an upward trend in grades. Applicants should also consider including an optional essay to boost their application. Note that some schools at UH such as the College of Engineering and College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics have higher admissions standards than the university as a whole.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. Note that there are some red dots (rejected students) and yellow dots (waitlisted students) mixed in with the green and blue in the middle of the graph. Some students with grades and test scores that were on target for the University of Houston were rejected. On the flip side, note that some students were accepted with test scores and grades a little bit below the norm.

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All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and University of Houston Undergraduate Admissions Office.

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Grove, Allen. "University of Houston: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo, Aug. 29, 2020, thoughtco.com/university-houston-gpa-sat-act-data-786704. Grove, Allen. (2020, August 29). University of Houston: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/university-houston-gpa-sat-act-data-786704 Grove, Allen. "University of Houston: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/university-houston-gpa-sat-act-data-786704 (accessed March 29, 2024).