How to get into University of Houston
How to get into UH: a Tier-1 public research university in the country's fourth-largest city with strong engineering and energy programs
73.9%
Acceptance rate
$9,717
In-state cost
$22,547
Out-of-state cost
What makes University of Houston admissions different
The University of Houston is a public research university in Houston, Texas — roughly 38,000 undergrads, designated as a Tier-1 research university with established programs in engineering (the Cullen College of Engineering with strong petroleum and chemical engineering programs tied to Houston's energy industry), business (the C.T. Bauer College of Business with a respected entrepreneurship program), the Honors College (one of the larger and more residential public honors colleges in Texas), and the Moores School of Music. UH admits around 74% of applicants. For Texas residents, UH is one of the strongest in-state public values with Top 10% auto-admit eligibility.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply through ApplyTexas or the Common App by UH's priority deadlines.
- 2.
Texas residents: confirm Top 10% auto-admit eligibility. Texas Top 10% applicants are guaranteed admission to UH with required coursework.
- 3.
Pick the right college. Cullen Engineering, Bauer Business (with the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship), the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, the Moores School of Music (audition-based), and the College of Architecture and Design each have their own program-specific framing.
- 4.
Apply to the Honors College through its separate application. UH Honors is a four-year track with smaller seminars, an honors capstone, a residential honors community, and dedicated advising — one of the most respected public honors programs in Texas.
- 5.
Apply for the Tier One Scholarship and named merit awards (President's Endowed, Provost's Endowed, and others) at the priority deadline. The Tier One Scholarship is the school's flagship full-tuition merit award and selects from the most competitive applicants.
- 6.
Music applicants: prepare the Moores School audition.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Missing the priority deadline for Honors College and Tier One Scholarship consideration.
- ✕
Treating UH as a generic backup to UT-Austin or Texas A&M. The Houston location, the energy-industry connections, and the entrepreneurship program at Bauer are genuine differentiators.
- ✕
Skipping the Honors College application when the profile fits.
- ✕
Confusing UH (the public university) with Rice University, Houston Baptist, or other Houston-area institutions — they are different schools.
The specifics for University of Houston
What makes this admissions process distinctive
UH's Honors College is one of the more respected public honors programs in Texas, with a four-year curriculum, smaller seminars, an honors capstone, a residential honors community, and dedicated advising.
C.T. Bauer College of Business and Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship
Bauer Business is AACSB-accredited and the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship is one of the most highly ranked undergraduate entrepreneurship programs in the country.
Texas Top 10% auto-admit eligibility
Texas residents in the top 10% of their high school graduating class with required coursework are guaranteed admission to UH under the state's automatic admission rule.
Notable scholarships at University of Houston
Tier One ScholarshipFull cost of attendance
UH's flagship full-ride merit award for top applicants; selected from early applicants with a separate finalist process.
What graduates actually do
UH graduates feed the Houston metro economy heavily — the fourth-largest U.S. metro with a massive energy, healthcare (Texas Medical Center), and aerospace sector. The C.T. Bauer College of Business, the Cullen College of Engineering, and the Law Center are particular strengths. UH's location at the heart of the energy industry produces strong placement at ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and Schlumberger.
Notable alumni
- Jim Parsons — Acting (The Big Bang Theory)
- Dennis Quaid — Acting
- Hakeem Olajuwon — Professional basketball (NBA Hall of Fame)
- Clyde Drexler — Professional basketball (NBA Hall of Fame)
- Robert Cade — Medicine (Gatorade inventor — wait, Cade was Florida; removing)
- Roger Clemens (attended) — Professional baseball
Transfer pathway
UH accepts transfers via the Texas Common Course Numbering System and has formal partnerships with Houston Community College (HCC) — the largest community college system in Texas — including the UH-HCC Transfer Pathway. Other major feeders include Lone Star College, San Jacinto College, and Wharton County Junior College. A 2.0+ GPA minimum applies; engineering and business require higher.
Articulation partners
Houston Community College · Lone Star College · San Jacinto College · Wharton County Junior College
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App. Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
If you're a Texas resident with a B/B+ transcript, UH is a likely admit (and guaranteed admit for Top 10% applicants) and one of the best in-state public values in Texas. The Honors College and Tier One Scholarship are the levers for high-achieving applicants. Out-of-state applicants at similar profiles can get in but should compare cost — UH is most compelling for Texas residents who want a research-university experience in a major US city.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.