Texas at Austin vs Houston - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Texas at Austin: 26.6% against 73.9% (Houston).
Real money goes to international students at Texas at Austin ($21,838 on average), while Houston stops at $4,456.
The cheaper tuition belongs to Houston: $27,926 against $44,908, or $16,982 less a year.
Ten years on, graduates of Texas at Austin earn noticeably more: $75K 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
Texas at Austin is the more selective of the two (26.64% vs 73.92% acceptance). Texas at Austin ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#45 vs #201-300). Texas at Austin graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($75K vs $62K). Houston has lower sticker-price tuition ($27,926 vs $44,908 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 Texas at Austin for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Houston for: lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Texas at Austin is more selective (26.64% vs 73.92% acceptance); Texas at Austin has a higher median SAT (1395 vs 1240).
Texas at Austin graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($75K vs $62K); Texas at Austin has a higher 6-year graduation rate (88.9% vs 64.6%).
Houston has lower sticker-price tuition ($27,926 vs $44,908); Texas at Austin offers a larger average aid package ($20,219 vs $16,450).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Texas at Austin | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #45 | #201-300 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 26.64% | 73.92% |
| Yield rate | 47.4% | 26.5% |
| Median SAT | 1395 | 1240 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.49 |
| Number of applications | 72,885 | 31,716 |
| International students | 4.5% | 5.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $75K | $62K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $51K | $39K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $93K |
| Graduation rate | 88.9% | 64.6% |
| Retention rate | 96.7% | 87% |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $18,194 |
| Tuition · year | $44,908 | $27,926 |
| Avg. aid package | $20,219 | $16,450 |
| % of need met | 75% | 55.1% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $19,919 | $21,819 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 53,864 | 47,980 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Texas at Austin or Houston?
It's harder to get into Texas at Austin. Texas at Austin accepts 26.64% of applicants, while Houston accepts 73.92%.
Do Texas at Austin or Houston graduates earn more?
Texas at Austin graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $75K vs $62K.
How much is tuition at Texas at Austin vs Houston?
Sticker-price tuition is $44,908 per year at Texas at Austin and $27,926 per year at Houston.
What SAT score do you need for Texas at Austin or Houston?
The median admitted SAT score is 1395 at Texas at Austin and 1240 at Houston; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Texas at Austin or Houston?
Texas at Austin ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #45 for Texas at Austin vs #201-300 for Houston.
Which university offers more financial aid - Texas at Austin or Houston?
The average aid package is $20,219 at Texas at Austin and $16,450 at Houston.
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