HBU vs. UH

Deciding between Houston Christian University and University of Houston? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Houston Christian University
University of Houston

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • HBU Houston, TX
  • UH Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • HBU Large City
  • UH Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • HBU 4,276
  • UH 47,980
  • Type
  • HBU Private 4 Year
  • UH Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HBU #837
  • UH #449
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HBU Southern Baptist
  • UH -
  • Status
  • HBU Non-profit
  • UH Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HBU
  • UH

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HBU $39,430
  • UH $9,717
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HBU $39,430
  • UH $22,547
  • Room & Board
  • HBU $12,928
  • UH $11,286
  • Average Net Price
  • HBU $21,282
  • UH $14,309
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HBU $28,870
  • UH $12,159
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HBU 100%
  • UH 74%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HBU 8,455
  • UH 31,716
  • Admitted
  • HBU 7,139
  • UH 23,446
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HBU 84.4%
  • UH 73.9%
  • Enrolled
  • HBU 10.5%
  • UH 26.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • HBU 1090
  • UH 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • HBU 20
  • UH 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • HBU 3.46
  • UH 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HBU B+
  • UH B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • HBU Easy
  • UH Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • HBU
  • UH Low
  • ACT Range
  • HBU 17/24
  • UH 23/29
  • SAT Range
  • HBU 990/1190
  • UH 1160/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HBU Test optional
  • UH Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • HBU
  • UH May 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HBU 18:1
  • UH 22:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HBU
    • Business (21%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • UH
    • Business (30%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HBU 45%
  • UH 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HBU $51,600
  • UH $59,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HBU 54%
  • UH 61%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HBU $24,166
  • UH $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HBU $249
  • UH $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HBU 36%
  • UH 48%
  • % Women
  • HBU 64%
  • UH 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HBU Very High
  • UH Very High
  • HBCU
  • HBU No
  • UH No
  • % White
  • HBU 27%
  • UH 26%
  • % Asian
  • HBU 10%
  • UH 22%
  • % Black
  • HBU 19%
  • UH 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • HBU 30%
  • UH 32%
  • % Native American
  • HBU 0%
  • UH 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HBU 0%
  • UH 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HBU 5%
  • UH 3%
  • % International
  • HBU 4%
  • UH 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HBU 4%
  • UH 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HBU 91%
  • UH 93%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HBU 6%
  • UH 3%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • HBU Yes
  • UH Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • HBU No
  • UH No
  • Meal Plan
  • HBU Yes
  • UH Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • HBU No
  • UH Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • HBU No
  • UH Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Houston Christian University in Houston, TX with University of Houston in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Houston is larger than HBU based on total student enrollment (47,980 students vs. 4,276 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Houston Christian University is located in Houston, TX (Large City setting); University of Houston is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • Houston Christian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Houston is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Houston Christian University 18:1; University of Houston 22:1.

HBU vs. UH Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HBU or UH? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Houston than HBU ($14,309 vs. $21,282).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Houston are 12.7% lower than at Houston Christian University ($11,286 vs. $12,928).
  • Houston Christian University is 305.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UH (about $29,713 more per year; $39,430.00 vs. $9,717.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74.9% higher at HBU than at University of Houston (about $16,883 more per year; $39,430.00 vs. $22,547.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Houston Christian University than at University of Houston (100% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Houston Christian University students is 137.4% larger than aid received by University of Houston students ($28,870 vs. $12,159).

HBU vs. UH Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HBU or UH? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UH and HBU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Houston (1250) is 160 points higher than at HBU (1090).
  • Incoming UH students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 20 at HBU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Houston Christian University 990/1190; University of Houston 1160/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Houston Christian University 17/24; University of Houston 23/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HBU - Test optional; UH - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UH May 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman HBU students have the same average high school GPA (3.46) as students at UH (3.46).
  • HBU has a higher acceptance rate (84.4%) than UH (73.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.5% at HBU vs. 26.5% at UH.

HBU vs. UH Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HBU and UH? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Houston's six-year graduation rate (46%) is higher than Houston Christian University's (45%).
  • Graduates from University of Houston earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than HBU graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $51,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Houston graduates have a $4,416 lower median loan debt than HBU graduates ($19,750 vs. $24,166).
  • Among borrowers, UH graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HBU graduates ($204 vs. $249).
  • More UH graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HBU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.