ORU vs. HBU

Deciding between Oral Roberts University and Houston Christian University? 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.

Oral Roberts University
Houston Christian University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ORU Tulsa, OK
  • HBU Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • ORU Large City
  • HBU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • ORU 5,936
  • HBU 4,276
  • Type
  • ORU Private 4 Year
  • HBU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ORU #870
  • HBU #837
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ORU Other Protestant
  • HBU Southern Baptist
  • Status
  • ORU Non-profit
  • HBU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ORU
  • HBU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ORU $35,470
  • HBU $39,430
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ORU $35,470
  • HBU $39,430
  • Room & Board
  • ORU $9,960
  • HBU $12,928
  • Average Net Price
  • ORU $25,808
  • HBU $21,282
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ORU $24,184
  • HBU $28,870
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ORU 98%
  • HBU 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ORU 5,022
  • HBU 8,455
  • Admitted
  • ORU 4,967
  • HBU 7,139
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ORU 98.9%
  • HBU 84.4%
  • Enrolled
  • ORU 18.8%
  • HBU 10.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ORU 1220
  • HBU 1090
  • Typical ACT score
  • ORU 25
  • HBU 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • ORU 3.5
  • HBU 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ORU A-
  • HBU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ORU Challenging
  • HBU Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ORU
  • HBU
  • ACT Range
  • ORU 22/28
  • HBU 17/24
  • SAT Range
  • ORU 1120/1310
  • HBU 990/1190
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ORU Test optional
  • HBU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ORU
  • HBU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ORU 18:1
  • HBU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ORU
    • Business (22%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (16%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • HBU
    • Business (21%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ORU 56%
  • HBU 45%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ORU $40,200
  • HBU $51,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ORU 59%
  • HBU 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ORU $29,244
  • HBU $24,166
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ORU $302
  • HBU $249
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ORU 44%
  • HBU 36%
  • % Women
  • ORU 56%
  • HBU 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ORU High
  • HBU Very High
  • HBCU
  • ORU No
  • HBU No
  • % White
  • ORU 49%
  • HBU 27%
  • % Asian
  • ORU 2%
  • HBU 10%
  • % Black
  • ORU 14%
  • HBU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • ORU 8%
  • HBU 30%
  • % Native American
  • ORU 3%
  • HBU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ORU 0%
  • HBU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ORU 6%
  • HBU 5%
  • % International
  • ORU 7%
  • HBU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ORU 11%
  • HBU 4%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ORU 33%
  • HBU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ORU 45%
  • HBU 6%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Oral Roberts University is larger than HBU based on total student enrollment (5,936 students vs. 4,276 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

ORU vs. HBU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ORU or HBU? 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 Houston Christian University than ORU ($21,282 vs. $25,808).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oral Roberts University are 23% lower than at Houston Christian University ($9,960 vs. $12,928).
  • Houston Christian University is 11.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than ORU (about $3,960 more per year; $39,430.00 vs. $35,470.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.2% higher at HBU than at Oral Roberts University (about $3,960 more per year; $39,430.00 vs. $35,470.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Houston Christian University than at Oral Roberts University (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Houston Christian University students is 19.4% larger than aid received by Oral Roberts University students ($28,870 vs. $24,184).

ORU vs. HBU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ORU or HBU? 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 HBU and ORU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oral Roberts University (1220) is 130 points higher than at HBU (1090).
  • Incoming ORU students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 20 at HBU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oral Roberts University 1120/1310; Houston Christian University 990/1190.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oral Roberts University 22/28; Houston Christian University 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ORU - Test optional; HBU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman ORU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at HBU (3.46).
  • ORU has a higher acceptance rate (98.9%) than HBU (84.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at ORU vs. 10.5% at HBU.

ORU vs. HBU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ORU and HBU? 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).

  • Oral Roberts University's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than Houston Christian University's (45%).
  • Graduates from Houston Christian University earn a median of about $11,400 more per year than ORU graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,600 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Houston Christian University graduates have a $5,078 lower median loan debt than ORU graduates ($24,166 vs. $29,244).
  • Among borrowers, HBU graduates have an estimated $53 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ORU graduates ($249 vs. $302).
  • More ORU 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.