UH vs. UNT

Deciding between University of Houston and University of North Texas? 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.

University of Houston
University of North Texas

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UH Houston, TX
  • UNT Denton, TX
  • Setting
  • UH Large City
  • UNT Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UH 47,980
  • UNT 46,864
  • Type
  • UH Public 4 Year
  • UNT Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UH #449
  • UNT #671
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UH -
  • UNT -
  • Status
  • UH Non-profit
  • UNT Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UH
  • UNT
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UH $9,717
  • UNT $11,309
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UH $22,547
  • UNT $21,149
  • Room & Board
  • UH $11,286
  • UNT $11,194
  • Average Net Price
  • UH $14,309
  • UNT $15,965
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UH $12,159
  • UNT $10,408
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UH 74%
  • UNT 84%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UH 31,716
  • UNT 38,477
  • Admitted
  • UH 23,446
  • UNT 27,793
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UH 73.9%
  • UNT 72.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UH 26.5%
  • UNT 24.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UH 1250
  • UNT 1110
  • Typical ACT score
  • UH 26
  • UNT 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • UH 3.46
  • UNT 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UH B+
  • UNT B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UH Difficult
  • UNT Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • UH Low
  • UNT Low
  • ACT Range
  • UH 23/29
  • UNT 19/27
  • SAT Range
  • UH 1160/1340
  • UNT 980/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UH Test optional
  • UNT Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UH May 31, 2027
  • UNT Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UH 22:1
  • UNT 25:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UH
    • Business (30%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • UNT
    • Business (21%)
    • General Studies (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UH 46%
  • UNT 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UH $59,000
  • UNT $47,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UH 61%
  • UNT 55%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UH $19,750
  • UNT $20,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UH $204
  • UNT $206
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UH 48%
  • UNT 46%
  • % Women
  • UH 52%
  • UNT 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UH Very High
  • UNT Very High
  • HBCU
  • UH No
  • UNT No
  • % White
  • UH 26%
  • UNT 47%
  • % Asian
  • UH 22%
  • UNT 6%
  • % Black
  • UH 10%
  • UNT 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • UH 32%
  • UNT 22%
  • % Native American
  • UH 0%
  • UNT 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UH 0%
  • UNT 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UH 3%
  • UNT 8%
  • % International
  • UH 5%
  • UNT 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UH 1%
  • UNT 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UH 93%
  • UNT 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UH 3%
  • UNT 3%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Houston in Houston, TX with University of North Texas in Denton, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Houston is larger than UNT based on total student enrollment (47,980 students vs. 46,864 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Houston is located in Houston, TX (Large City setting); University of North Texas is in Denton, TX (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Houston is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Texas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Houston 22:1; University of North Texas 25:1.

UH vs. UNT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UH or UNT? 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 University of Houston than UNT ($14,309 vs. $15,965).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Texas are 0.8% lower than at University of Houston ($11,194 vs. $11,286).
  • University of North Texas is 16.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UH (about $1,592 more per year; $11,309.00 vs. $9,717.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.6% higher at UH than at University of North Texas (about $1,398 more per year; $22,547.00 vs. $21,149.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of North Texas than at University of Houston (84% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Houston students is 16.8% larger than aid received by University of North Texas students ($12,159 vs. $10,408).

UH vs. UNT Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Houston (1250) is 140 points higher than at UNT (1110).
  • Incoming UH students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 23 at UNT).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Houston 1160/1340; University of North Texas 980/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Houston 23/29; University of North Texas 19/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UH - Test optional; UNT - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UH May 31, 2027; UNT Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UH students have the same average high school GPA (3.46) as students at UNT (3.46).
  • UH has a higher acceptance rate (73.9%) than UNT (72.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.5% at UH vs. 24.2% at UNT.

UH vs. UNT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UH and UNT? 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 North Texas's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than University of Houston's (46%).
  • Graduates from University of Houston earn a median of about $12,000 more per year than UNT graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $47,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Houston graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than UNT graduates ($19,750 vs. $20,000).
  • Among borrowers, UH graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UNT graduates ($204 vs. $206).
  • More UH graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNT 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.