Quad

Cost & aid

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $14,862 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $9.4K less than the national median. The 76% who received grants paid $14,059 on average; the other 24% paid the full sticker price of $24,376 in-state / $37,960 out-of-state.

−38% after inflation since 2014–15Over time
Full price, in-state
$24,376 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income

Cost by family income

Per year for a typical family of four with one child in college. Up to $110K it is the average price federal aid recipients paid (2023–24).

Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys to read the price at an income.

$0$10K$20K$0$100K$200K$300K$400K+Full price $24KLittle need-based aid above $110K
  • Published federal figures
View as a table
Price per year by family income
Family incomePrice per year
$0–30K$7K a year
$30–48K$12K a year
$48–75K$19K a year
$75–110K$21K a year
$150KPublished data end at $110K
$200KPublished data end at $110K
$250KPublished data end at $110K
$300KPublished data end at $110K
$350KPublished data end at $110K
$400K and abovePublished data end at $110K
$150K a year

At $150K: Published data end at $110K

Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for a number.

Your own number depends on the details below, so use the college's calculator for it.

What can change this

  • Savings and investments above a typical amount raise the price. The curve assumes typical assets.
Average total cost per year, all first-years (est.)

$14,862

Tuition, housing, food, books & other expenses, after grants · 2023–24

Full price, averaged across in-state & out-of-state$24,512
− Grants, averaged over every first-year−$9,650

76% got grants averaging $12,630; 24% got none.

= Average total cost$14,862
Tuition & fees$7.9KRoom & board$11KBooks & supplies$1KOther expenses$4.6K
Compared to all colleges$14,862
National median: $24,284Below typical

Housing and food use the college's on-campus rates, so the estimate runs high where many students live at home. “Other expenses” is the college's estimate of personal and transportation costs. Loans aren't subtracted because they're repaid.

Who pays what

Received grants · 76%$14,059 averagenet price (in-state students)
No grants · 24%$24.4K / $38Kfull price, in-state / out-of-state

Share of first-year students, 2023–24.

Sticker price by residency

RateTuition & feesFirst-years
In-state$7,746$24,37699%
Out-of-state$21,330$37,9601%

Full cost adds books, on-campus room & board, and other expenses ($16,630) to tuition and fees.

Tuition guarantee
Median debt at graduation

$17.8K

≈ $189/month for 10 years

Payback estimate

1.0 yrs

of median salary to cover 4 years of net price

Undergrads with a federal loan28%
National median: 45%Below typical

About 1 in 4 undergrads borrows federally.

Median federal debt, by background

Everyone who borrowed and left, whether or not they graduated.

Pell Grant recipients$14,141
No Pell Grant$12,500
Family income under $30K$13,500
$30K–$75K$13,750
Over $75K$13,000

Three years into repayment

Where former undergraduates stand on their federal loans.

  • Paid in full7%
  • Paying it down20%
  • Payments paused42%
  • Not paying it down21%
  • Behind or in default10%
  • Forgiven or discharged1%

Some shares are published as a small range to protect privacy.

Who actually gets aid

39%of full price

Aid generosity

Moderate

Grants cover 39% of the $24,512 full price on average across all first-years (moderate), more than at 48% of colleges.

$9,650 in grants per first-year ÷ $24,512 full price.

Compared to every college39%
39%
← Limitedmore generous than 48% of 1,514Very generous →

Who gets grants and scholarships

Full-time first-year students (356), 2023–24

Received grants or scholarships, avg $12,630 No grants

About 1 in 4 first-year students got no grant aid and paid the full sticker price of $24,376 in-state / $37,960 out-of-state.

Where the aid comes from

From the college33% · avg $5.1K
Pell Grants55% · avg $5.9K
State or local grants51%
Student loans21% · avg $5.3K

Share of first-year students receiving each; averages are per recipient.

Aid by family income

By family income: only students who received federal aid, because income is only reported for them.

Aid by family income isn't reported.

Applying for aid

For fall 2025 entrants.

To apply for aid: the FAFSA.
Need is calculated with the federal formula.

Deadline: none · Aid offers: on a rolling basis

Dates for fall 2025 entrants; the next cycle's are usually similar.

International students

International applicants file: the college's own form.

Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;University of Houston-Clear Lake Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2025 entrants;University of Houston-Clear Lake Common Data Set 2024–25, 2024–25;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;Common Data Set, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)