UHCL vs. UT Arlington

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Houston Clear Lake in Houston, TX with The University of Texas at Arlington in Arlington, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Texas at Arlington is larger than UHCL based on total student enrollment (44,956 students vs. 8,137 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Houston Clear Lake is located in Houston, TX (Large Suburban setting); The University of Texas at Arlington is in Arlington, TX (Large City setting).
• University of Houston Clear Lake is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Arlington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Houston Clear Lake 15:1; The University of Texas at Arlington 23:1.

UHCL vs. UT Arlington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UHCL or UT Arlington? 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 The University of Texas at Arlington than UHCL ($13,755 vs. $14,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Arlington are 11.2% lower than at University of Houston Clear Lake ($11,228 vs. $12,642).
• The University of Texas at Arlington is 53.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UHCL (about $4,180 more per year; $11,950.00 vs. $7,770.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 40.1% higher at UT Arlington than at University of Houston Clear Lake (about $8,468 more per year; $29,582.00 vs. $21,114.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at Arlington than at University of Houston Clear Lake (88% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Houston Clear Lake students is 4.1% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Arlington students ($12,630 vs. $12,127).

UHCL vs. UT Arlington Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UHCL or UT Arlington? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UT Arlington and UHCL.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at The University of Texas at Arlington (1130) is 70 points higher than at UHCL (1060).
• Incoming UT Arlington students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (23 vs. 22 at UHCL).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Houston Clear Lake 970/1150; The University of Texas at Arlington 1010/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Houston Clear Lake 20/25; The University of Texas at Arlington 19/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UHCL - Test optional; UT Arlington - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UHCL Jun 1, 2027; UT Arlington Jun 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman UT Arlington students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at UHCL (3.39).
• UHCL has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than UT Arlington (79.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.2% at UHCL vs. 26.4% at UT Arlington.

UHCL vs. UT Arlington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UHCL and UT Arlington? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• The University of Texas at Arlington's six-year graduation rate is 40%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for UHCL.
• Graduates from University of Houston Clear Lake earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than UT Arlington graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,700 vs. $51,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Houston Clear Lake graduates have a $850 lower median loan debt than UT Arlington graduates ($17,150 vs. $18,000).
• Among borrowers, UHCL graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UT Arlington graduates ($177 vs. $186).
• More UHCL graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Arlington students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 56%)

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.