Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
U. Houston admits about 8 in 10 applicants (76%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 53% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$75 to apply
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 72%, women at 76%.
Where applicants live
Texas applicants were admitted at 78%, applicants from other states at 62%, and international applicants at 85%.
All applicants in the same class: 76%
Of those admitted, 28% from Texas enrolled, against 6.8% from other states and 17% from abroad.
Counted by where applicants lived when they applied, which can differ from who qualifies for in-state tuition. A group's rate reflects who applies from there as well as how the college chooses.
Yield
25% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
No wait list
Applying early
Doesn't offer early decision or early action
Where you stand
How U. Houston reads a record
GPA and tests are both important; and class rank are both considered. 25% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher. Scores are optional. 55% of first-years sent an SAT and 7% an ACT. Of the 71% whose high school reported a rank, 25% were in the top tenth. Requires 4 years of English, 4 of math, 3 of science, and 3 of social studies. See the years by subject
What they look at
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Considered | ||||
| Class rank | Considered | ||||
| Academic GPA | Important | ||||
| Test scores | Important | ||||
| Essay | Considered | ||||
| Recommendations | Not considered | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Not considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Considered | ||||
| Talent or ability | Considered | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Not considered | ||||
| First generation | Not considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Not considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Not considered | ||||
| State residency | Not considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Considered | ||||
| Work experience | Considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Not considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; demonstration of competencies considered; English proficiency test required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by June 1 for fall 2026.
- Priority date: November 3. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are sent on a rolling basis.
- There's no set reply date.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Math | 4 |
| Science | 3 |
| Social studies | 3 |
| Total | 14* |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science. *Added up from the subjects listed; the college didn't give a total.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.46
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)
- 4.03%
- 3.75–3.9922%
- 3.50–3.7427%
- 3.25–3.4922%
- 3.00–3.2415%
- below 3.011%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.00–3.74.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 2.7% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 21.8% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 27.0% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 22.5% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 15.3% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 9.4% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 1.2% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.1% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
25% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 59% in the top quarter, of the 71% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:University of Houston Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1225 on the SAT, 55 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
50% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1200–1399.
19% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
13% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
13% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
20% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
14% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 55% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 7% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
3,691 studentssubmitted ACT
471 studentsAt least half of students submitted a score, so the ranges are reasonably representative.
Sources:University of Houston Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;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 Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;University of Houston Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;University of Houston Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)