Quad

Head-to-head

U. Houston
University at Albany

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    U. Houston has 3.1× as many undergrads as University at Albany

    Undergrads
  2. 2

    U. Houston's yield is 13 pts higher than University at Albany's

    Yield rate
  3. 3

    U. Houston has 10 pts more first-gen students than University at Albany (40% vs. 30%)

    First-generation students
  4. 4

    University at Albany grads earn $5.6K more ten years out than U. Houston's ($67,979 vs. $62,377)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  5. 5

    University at Albany graduates 5 pts more of its students than U. Houston (68% vs. 63%)

    Graduation rate
  6. 6

    U. Houston costs about $1.8K less per year on average than University at Albany ($18,514 vs. $20,325, all students)

    Average cost, all students

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Hollow dots at the center mean that measure isn't reported.

Who's hardest to get into

University at Albany admits 69%, U. Houston 76%; U. Houston's yield is higher, at 25%.

Acceptance rate
U. Houston76%
University at Albany69%
Quad's selectivity
  • U. HoustonSelective
  • University at AlbanySelective
SAT middle 50%Axis 1000–1600
U. Houston
1140–1310
University at AlbanyNot reported
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • U. HoustonGPA and tests important25%
  • University at AlbanyGPA and school record required

Who's on each campus

U. Houston has 3.1× as many undergrads as University at Albany; University at Albany has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
U. Houston38.4K
University at Albany12.6K
Pell Grant share
U. Houston42%
University at Albany44%

Majors and faculty

Psychology leads at U. Houston, and Business Administration and Management at University at Albany.

Students per faculty member
U. Houston22 to 1
University at Albany16 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • U. HoustonPsychology, General9%
  • University at AlbanyBusiness Administration and Management, General10%

What each costs

U. Houston costs about $1.8K less a year than University at Albany on average; University at Albany's grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
U. Houston$18.5K
University at Albany$20.3K
Aid generosity
U. Houston33%
University at Albany35%

What each pays off

University at Albany's former students earn more, a median $68K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 60% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
U. Houston$62.4K
University at Albany$68K
Graduation rate
U. Houston63%
University at Albany68%

How each has changed

Applications grew at both; both got less selective.

Applications, 10-year change
  • U. HoustonGrowing+83%
  • University at AlbanyGrowing+49%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:University of Houston (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;University of Houston Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why