UH vs. UTSA

Comparable Facts

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

University of Houston is larger than UTSA based on total student enrollment (47,980 students vs. 35,770 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Houston is located in Houston, TX (Large City setting); The University of Texas at San Antonio is in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting).
• University of Houston is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Houston 22:1; The University of Texas at San Antonio 24:1.

UH vs. UTSA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UH or UTSA? 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 San Antonio than UH ($10,959 vs. $14,309).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Houston are 24.3% lower than at The University of Texas at San Antonio ($11,286 vs. $14,912).
• University of Houston is 7.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UTSA (about $706 more per year; $9,717.00 vs. $9,011.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.2% higher at UH than at The University of Texas at San Antonio (about $496 more per year; $22,547.00 vs. $22,051.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at San Antonio than at University of Houston (76% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Houston students is 7.3% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at San Antonio students ($12,159 vs. $11,332).

UH vs. UTSA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UH or UTSA? 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 UTSA and UH.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Houston (1250) is 140 points higher than at UTSA (1110).
• Incoming UH students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 22 at UTSA).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Houston 1160/1340; The University of Texas at San Antonio 1000/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Houston 23/29; The University of Texas at San Antonio 19/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UH - Test optional; UTSA - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UH May 31, 2027; UTSA Jun 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UH students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at UTSA (3.36).
• UTSA has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than UH (73.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.5% at UH vs. 27.1% at UTSA.

UH vs. UTSA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UH and UTSA? 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 The University of Texas at San Antonio's (27%).
• Graduates from University of Houston earn a median of about $11,100 more per year than UTSA graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $47,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Houston graduates have a $3,233 lower median loan debt than UTSA graduates ($19,750 vs. $22,983).
• Among borrowers, UH graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UTSA graduates ($204 vs. $237).
• More UH graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UTSA students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 55%)

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.