University of Houston-Downtown
Houston, Texas · Public · 90.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 62/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Houston-Downtown is a public access institution in central Houston, Texas, enrolling approximately 12,555 students. It earns an overall ROI score of 62 - Fair Value - driven by a strong earnings premium subscore of 86 and modest debt. Graduates earn a 44% earnings premium over high-school-only workers by six years, reaching an average of $42,500. The net price of $10,542 and median debt of $18,750 are both low, making the financial foundation genuinely affordable. However, a 33% completion rate and 19% repayment rate subscore (61% of borrowers making progress) drag down the overall rating. The completion challenge is the institution's defining financial risk: many students invest years and debt without earning the credential. UHD serves a predominantly working-adult, Hispanic, and first-generation student population in the heart of the nation's energy capital. Computer and information sciences, accounting, and management information systems graduates see particularly strong earnings outcomes for a public access institution at this price point.
How University of Houston-Downtown scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- 6-year graduation rate33.2% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
University of Houston-Downtown
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,708/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $17,548/yr |
| Average net price | $10,542/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $42,168 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,551 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $199 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 33.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 12,555 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $7,708/year ($17,548/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $10,542/year, or roughly $42,168 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $9,439/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,380/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $18,750, which works out to about $199 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,500) and comes to 0.44, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $9,439 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,048 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,247 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,488 |
| $110,001+ | $19,380 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from families earning under $30,000 face a net price of $9,439 - exceptionally low. With $18,750 in median debt, completers from low-income backgrounds face manageable loan burdens relative to earnings in computer science or accounting. The primary risk is completion; students in this bracket should seek academic support resources from day one.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income students ($48,001 - $75,000) pay $11,247 in net price. The earnings premium and low debt stack well for this group: the 9.8-year payback period is reasonable, and students in high-earning programs like CS or accounting would recover costs in five to six years. The completion rate challenge applies uniformly - students should plan for full-time enrollment or structured part-time schedules.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income in-state families ($110,000-plus) pay $19,380 - still very low by national standards. At this income level, UHD is a strong choice for students who are location-constrained or prefer the Houston urban environment over residential campus options. Out-of-state net prices rise considerably, making UHD primarily a local and regional value.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Houston-Downtown with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $59,924 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $69,712 | C+ |
| Accounting | $67,499 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $53,589 | C+ |
| Psychology | $48,234 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $66,591 | C+ |
| Business Administration and Management | $59,188 | C+ |
| Management Information Systems | $66,881 | B |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $72,528 | B+ |
| Marketing | $61,866 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer Science is UHD's strongest documented program. Graduates earn $56,475 one year out and $72,528 at four years, against only $19,000 in median debt - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 that earns a B+ grade. For a public access institution with a $10,542 net price, these outcomes are exceptional. The 98 annual graduates benefit directly from Houston's energy-tech sector and the city's growing software and IT employer base.
Accounting
Accounting graduates earn $54,128 one year out and $67,499 at four years, with a B grade on a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41. The 251 annual graduates represent one of UHD's largest programs. Houston's enormous presence of energy, healthcare, and real estate firms creates deep accounting employer demand. At UHD's net price, accounting represents an extremely cost-efficient path to a professional credential.
Management Information Systems
MIS graduates earn $51,314 one year out and $66,881 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40 earns a B grade. The 109 annual graduates work in technology operations and enterprise systems roles across Houston's large corporate sector. MIS at UHD provides a mid-career-friendly credential for students transitioning from non-technical backgrounds into business technology roles.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is UHD's second-largest tracked program with 257 graduates. One-year earnings of $53,764 reflect solid placement in Houston's diverse business economy, rising to $69,712 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 earns a C+ grade. This program offers a practical credential with moderate financial returns - good for students who can complete the degree and enter Houston's business labor market directly.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates earn $42,122 one year out and $53,589 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54 earns a C+ grade. With 241 annual graduates, this is one of UHD's largest programs. Houston's substantial law enforcement and criminal justice system creates consistent demand for graduates in this field.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 55.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 61.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 50.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 56.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Houston-Downtown’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 90.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 460-550 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 480-560 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 16-22 |
| Enrollment | 12,555 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 55.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,421 |
UHD's 90% admission rate and SAT math mid-range of 460 - 550 signal a broadly accessible institution. The ACT mid-range of 16 - 22 reflects the non-traditional student population. Prospective students should focus on financial aid packaging and select programs with the strongest documented outcomes - computer science, accounting, and management information systems - rather than relying on the institutional average as their planning baseline.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UHD benefits from Houston's enormous labor market depth.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Houston-Downtown (this school) | 62 | $10,542 | $53,551 |
| Portland State University | 69 | $9,552 | $57,906 |
| University of Nebraska at Omaha | 64 | $13,441 | $53,909 |
| Minnesota State University-Mankato | 62 | $19,139 | $56,922 |
| Angelo State University | 49 | $15,091 | $50,116 |
| Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi | 48 | $15,225 | $51,865 |
Who Thrives Here
UHD primarily serves non-traditional, working-adult, and first-generation students in Houston's diverse urban core. With 55% receiving Pell Grants, the institution is deeply embedded in Houston's lower- and middle-income communities. The 90% admission rate with SAT math mid-range of 460 - 550 and ACT of 16 - 22 indicates a broad-access admission posture. Students who thrive are self-directed, motivated by concrete career goals, and able to navigate the challenges of attending school while managing employment and family responsibilities.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
University of Houston-Downtown is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $10,542 a year after aid ($42,168 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $53,551 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: its 33.2% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 61.5% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $18,750 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Houston-Downtown: Common Questions
Is University of Houston-Downtown worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether University of Houston-Downtown is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 62/100 on our ROI scale. At $10,542 a year after aid ($42,168 over four years) against $53,551 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of Houston-Downtown cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $10,542 a year, or roughly $42,168 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Houston-Downtown graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $53,551 ten years after enrolling, roughly $11,751 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Houston-Downtown?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 9.8 years for University of Houston-Downtown. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Houston-Downtown graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $18,750, against average earnings of $42,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Houston-Downtown?
The six-year graduation rate is 33.2%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.