Houston Christian University

Houston, TX · SouthwestQuad's selectivityOpen

Known forEconomic diversityVery diverseTest-optional heavyFaith-centered

Admissions · Fall 2024

8 in 10 applicants admitted

Houston Christian admits about 8 in 10 applicants (84%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 35% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

84%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

8,455

Admitted

7,139

Yield

11%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

990–1190

8001600

ACT middle 50%

17–24

1236

Applications −34% since fall 2014 · admit rate 36% → 84%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 2,886 undergrads, where 56% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.

2.9K

undergrads · larger than 68% of colleges

Diversity index

0.75

Pell Grant

56%

above the median

First generation

36%

above the median

Large cityNCAA D-I FCS · Southland ConferenceROTCStudy abroad

Less diverse · index 0.79 → 0.75 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Psychology, General (14% of graduates). 18 students for every faculty member, more than at 83% of colleges. 35% of faculty are full-time. Spends $5,467 a year on instruction per student.

18 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 83% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $26,290 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $2K more than the national median. The 100% who received grants paid $21,282 on average; the other 0% paid the full sticker price of $55,118.

52%

$26.3K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $2K above the national median

Full price: $55,118 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid: 21% · avg $27K; of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)

Aid generosity

Generous

grants cover 52% of full price

Federal loans

59%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −8% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $55,933 ten years after enrolling, more than at 57% of colleges; 49% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.9 years of that salary.

49%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$55.9K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$22.6K

≈ $240/month for 10 years

Retention

69%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 45% → 49% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 7% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 8%, because grants grew faster. Applications fell 34% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 36% to 84%.

Cost
Falling
−8% after inflation
Applications
Shrinking
−34%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 36% → 84%
Diversity
Less diverse
index 0.79 → 0.75

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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University of Mount Saint Vincent

85% admit · SAT 1095 · 2.7K undergrads

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Saint Peter's University

90% admit · 2.1K undergrads

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

IPEDS unit ID 225399 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything