Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
U. Houston-Downtown admits about 9 in 10 applicants (90%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 23% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Applicants from Texas and from other states were admitted at similar rates (91% and 93%).
$50 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 88%, women at 91%.
Yield
20% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Where you stand
How U. Houston-Downtown reads a record
GPA, class rank, and tests are all very important; is important. 20% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher. Scores are optional. 41% of first-years sent an SAT and 4% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Of the 74% whose high school reported a rank, 6% were in the top tenth.
What they look at
- High school GPA
- Required
- High school record
- Required
- Class rank
- Required
- College-prep program
- Required
- Recommendations
- Not considered
- Essay
- Not considered
- Legacy status
- Not considered
- Work experience
- Not considered
- Demonstration of competencies
- Not considered
- English proficiency test
- Required
- Other tests
- Not considered
Transferring in
92% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 90% of first-year applicants
3,021 applied · 2,791 admitted
Transfers may start in the fall, spring, and summer.
At least 15 credit hours completed to apply as a transfer.
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: priority date August 1, decisions on a rolling basis
- Spring entry: priority date December 15, decisions on a rolling basis
- Summer entry: priority date May 1, decisions on a rolling basis
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Recommended for some
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Not required
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Not required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Not required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by June 1 for fall 2024.
- There's no set reply date.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 academic year.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2023 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.29
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.010%
- 3.75–3.9910%
- 3.50–3.7415%
- 3.25–3.4918%
- 3.00–3.2418%
- below 3.028%
The middle half had GPAs of 2.50–3.74.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 10.4% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 9.7% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 15.4% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 18.5% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 17.5% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 24.9% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 3.1% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.5% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
6% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 25% in the top quarter, of the 74% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:University of Houston-Downtown Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2023About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1025 on the SAT, 145 points below the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;University of Houston-Downtown Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2023;University of Houston-Downtown Common Data Set 2023–24, 2023–24;University of Houston-Downtown Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2024 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)