HBU vs. University of St Thomas

Should I go to Houston Baptist University or University of St Thomas? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if HBU or University of St Thomas is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Houston Baptist University vs. University of St Thomas comparison
Houston Baptist University University of St Thomas College 3 College 4
Houston Baptist University University of St Thomas
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Overview

HBU University of St Thomas
Location Houston, TX Houston, TX
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 4,257 3,588
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #740 #479
Religious Affiliation Southern Baptist Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hbu.edu stthom.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

HBU University of St Thomas
Tuition (In State) $34,250 $31,724
Tuition (Out of State) $34,250 $31,724
Room & Board $9,130 $9,760
Avg Net Price $19,515 $19,207
Avg Grant Aid $26,908 $23,181
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 91%

Admission

HBU University of St Thomas
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,258 1,123
Admitted 8,666 1,086
Acceptance Rate 84.5% 96.7%
Enrolled % 8.4% 47.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.53
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/26 24/29
SAT Range 1060/1230 1010/1300
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

HBU University of St Thomas
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)

Outcomes

HBU University of St Thomas
Graduation Rate 45% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,600 $57,200
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,166 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $249 $227

Diversity

HBU University of St Thomas
% Men 33% 42%
% Women 67% 58%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 27% 28%
% Black 19% 7%
% Hispanic 30% 40%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 4% 10%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

HBU University of St Thomas
% In-State 91% 95%
% Out-of-State 5% 3%

Campus

HBU University of St Thomas
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Houston Baptist University is larger than than University of St Thomas based on total student enrollment (4,257 students vs. 3,588 students)

HBU vs. University of St Thomas Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HBU or University of St Thomas?

  • Houston Baptist University is 8% more expensive to attend than University of St Thomas for in-state tuition ($34,250.00 vs. $31,724.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8% higher at HBU than University of St Thomas ($34,250.00 vs. $31,724.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of St Thomas than HBU ($19,207 vs. $19,515)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Houston Baptist University are 6.9% lower than costs at University of St Thomas ($9,130 vs. $9,760)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Houston Baptist University than University of St Thomas (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Houston Baptist University students is 16.1% larger than aid received University of St Thomas ($26,908 vs. $23,181)

HBU vs. University of St Thomas Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HBU or University of St Thomas? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of St Thomas or HBU .

  • The average SAT score at University of St Thomas (1103) is 43 points higher than at HBU (1060)
  • Incoming University of St Thomas students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at HBU (23)
  • Accepted freshman University of St Thomas students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at HBU (3.46)
  • University of St Thomas has a higher acceptance rate (96.7%) than HBU (84.5%)

HBU vs. University of St Thomas Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, HBU or University of St Thomas? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between University of St Thomas and HBU.

  • The graduation rate at HBU is higher than University of St Thomas (45% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from University of St Thomas earn on average $5,600 more per year than HBU graduates after ten years. ($57,200 vs. $51,600)
  • University of St Thomas students graduate with a $2,166 lower median federal student loan debt than HBU graduates. ($22,000 vs. $24,166)
  • University of St Thomas graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than HBU graduates. ($227 vs. $249)
  • More University of St Thomas graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HBU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/