UHCL vs. UTEP

Comparable Facts

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

The University of Texas at El Paso is larger than UHCL based on total student enrollment (25,039 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 El Paso is in El Paso, TX (Large City setting).
• University of Houston Clear Lake is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at El Paso is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Houston Clear Lake 15:1; The University of Texas at El Paso 21:1.

UHCL vs. UTEP Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UHCL or UTEP? 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 El Paso than UHCL ($9,305 vs. $14,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at El Paso are 14.1% lower than at University of Houston Clear Lake ($10,864 vs. $12,642).
• The University of Texas at El Paso is 25.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UHCL (about $1,974 more per year; $9,744.00 vs. $7,770.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.8% higher at UTEP than at University of Houston Clear Lake (about $4,388 more per year; $25,502.00 vs. $21,114.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at El Paso than at University of Houston Clear Lake (82% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Houston Clear Lake students is 19.5% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at El Paso students ($12,630 vs. $10,571).

UHCL vs. UTEP Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UHCL or UTEP? 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 UTEP and UHCL.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of Houston Clear Lake (1060) is 90 points higher than at UTEP (970).
• Incoming UHCL students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (22 vs. 19 at UTEP).
• 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 El Paso 860/1080.
• 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 El Paso 17/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UHCL - Test optional; UTEP - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UHCL Jun 1, 2027; UTEP May 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman UHCL students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at UTEP (3.3).
• UTEP has a higher acceptance rate (99.9%) than UHCL (90.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.2% at UHCL vs. 33.5% at UTEP.

UHCL vs. UTEP Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UHCL and UTEP? 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 El Paso's six-year graduation rate is 37%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for UHCL.
• Graduates from University of Houston Clear Lake earn a median of about $11,500 more per year than UTEP graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,700 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Houston Clear Lake graduates have a $100 lower median loan debt than UTEP graduates ($17,150 vs. $17,250).
• Among borrowers, UHCL graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UTEP graduates ($177 vs. $178).
• More UHCL graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UTEP students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 45%)

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.