Houston vs Connecticut - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Connecticut: 52.4% against 73.9% (Houston).
Average aid for an international student is $17,282 (Connecticut) and $4,456 (Houston).
On paper the cheaper option is Houston: $27,926 against $44,004, which is $16,078 less a year.
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Connecticut: $74K against $62K.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Connecticut is the more selective of the two (52.39% vs 73.92% acceptance). Houston ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#201-300 vs #301-400). Connecticut graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($74K vs $62K). Houston has lower sticker-price tuition ($27,926 vs $44,004 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Houston for: a higher world ranking, lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Connecticut for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Connecticut is more selective (52.39% vs 73.92% acceptance); Connecticut has a higher median SAT (1340 vs 1240).
Connecticut graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($74K vs $62K); Connecticut has a higher 6-year graduation rate (83.3% vs 64.6%).
Houston has lower sticker-price tuition ($27,926 vs $44,004); Connecticut offers a larger average aid package ($21,535 vs $16,450).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Houston | Connecticut |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #201-300 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 73.92% | 52.39% |
| Yield rate | 26.5% | 15.4% |
| Median SAT | 1240 | 1340 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.49 | - |
| Number of applications | 31,716 | 55,479 |
| International students | 5.7% | 7.4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $62K | $74K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $39K | $50K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $93K | $109K |
| Graduation rate | 64.6% | 83.3% |
| Retention rate | 87% | 92% |
| Median debt | $18,194 | $21,500 |
| Tuition · year | $27,926 | $44,004 |
| Avg. aid package | $16,450 | $21,535 |
| % of need met | 55.1% | 61.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $21,819 | $28,506 |
| Application fee | $75 | $80 |
| Enrollment | 47,980 | 28,306 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Houston or Connecticut?
It's harder to get into Connecticut. Houston accepts 73.92% of applicants, while Connecticut accepts 52.39%.
Do Houston or Connecticut graduates earn more?
Connecticut graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $74K vs $62K.
How much is tuition at Houston vs Connecticut?
Sticker-price tuition is $27,926 per year at Houston and $44,004 per year at Connecticut.
What SAT score do you need for Houston or Connecticut?
The median admitted SAT score is 1240 at Houston and 1340 at Connecticut; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Houston or Connecticut?
Houston ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #201-300 for Houston vs #301-400 for Connecticut.
Which university offers more financial aid - Houston or Connecticut?
The average aid package is $16,450 at Houston and $21,535 at Connecticut.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern