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University of Houston-Clear Lake
Houston, TXpublicwww.uhcl.edu/
Acceptance
91%
SAT 25–75
970–1150
Avg net price
$15,563
Earnings (10 yr)
$59,004
Graduation rate
52%
Admit rate has ranged 69%–91% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
The University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) is a public university with a sprawling 524-acre campus nestled in a wildlife preserve near Houston's high-tech hub. Known for its accessible admissions (90-94% acceptance rate) and strong ties to local industries, UHCL offers pragmatic programs in business, psychology, and liberal arts, with a student body that thrives on inclusivity and engagement. Its affordability and solid graduation outcomes for Pell Grant recipients make it a practical choice for career-focused students.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
- High school transcript
- Grade point average
- Class rank
- TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
- Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
- Undergrad enrollment
- 6,078
- In-state tuition
- $7,770
- Out-of-state tuition
- $21,114
- Campus Size
- 524 acres (wildlife preserve)
- Popular Majors
- Business, Psychology, Liberal Arts
- Acceptance Rate
- 90-94%
- 6-Year Grad Rate
- 60%
- Student Organizations
- 100+
- Median 10-Year Earnings
- $59,004
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
- Median earnings (10 yr)
- $59,004
- Value (earnings ÷ net price)
- 3.8×
- Median debt at graduation
- $17,831
- Graduation rate
- 52%
- First-year retention
- 74%
- Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
- 56%
- Pell (lower-income) share
- 76%
- First-generation share
- 48%
- Endowment / student
- $6,776
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
- Computer Engineering$61,814
- Natural Resources Conservation and Research$52,107
- Finance and Financial Management Services$50,717
- Business/Commerce, General$49,996
- Management Information Systems and Services$49,631
- Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Campus & location
Campus safety
- On-campus violent crimes (2024)
- 3
- Per 1,000 students
- 0.49
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
- Pleasant days / yr
- 103
- Summer high
- 90°F
- Winter low
- 50°F
- Annual rain
- 74.1"
- Natural-hazard risk
- Very High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility
Research output
- Institutional h-index
- 148
- Scholarly works
- 5,079
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Quick answers
- What is the acceptance rate at University of Houston-Clear Lake?
- University of Houston-Clear Lake's acceptance rate is approximately 91% (Houston, TX), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
- What SAT score do you need for University of Houston-Clear Lake?
- Admitted students at University of Houston-Clear Lake typically score 970–1150 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
- How much does University of Houston-Clear Lake cost?
- At University of Houston-Clear Lake, the average net price (after aid) is about $15,563 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
- How many undergraduates attend University of Houston-Clear Lake?
- University of Houston-Clear Lake enrolls approximately 6,078 undergraduate students.
- Where is University of Houston-Clear Lake located?
- University of Houston-Clear Lake is located in Houston, TX.
Admissions
UHCL is one of Texas’ most accessible public universities, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering between 90.5% (Data USA, 2024) and 94.56% (BigFuture). The school is Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight.—freshmen aren’t required to submit SAT/ACT scores but are encouraged to if available (average SAT: 1060, ACT: 23). Admissions have grown by 20.4% recently, reflecting its appeal to non-traditional and commuter students. Notably, UHCL doesn’t accept the Common Application, requiring direct submissions instead.
Academics
UHCL’s academic offerings skew toward practical, career-ready degrees, with business, psychology, and liberal arts as the most popular majors (Niche). The university’s four colleges provide 80+ undergraduate programs, including specialized certificates and minors. Its location in Clear Lake—a hub for NASA and tech firms—fuels partnerships with local industries, particularly in STEM and interdisciplinary fields. Class sizes are moderate, and the vibe is supportive, with faculty often praised for accessibility.
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See colleges similar to University of Houston-Clear Lake →Sources
- Campus Facts | Institutional Research | University of Houston-Clear ...
- [XLS] 2022-2023 Common Data Set - University of Houston-Clear Lake
- UHCL Common Data Set - HawkWorks
- Common Data Set - University of Houston-Downtown
- University of Houston--Clear Lake | US News Best Colleges
- University of Houston-Clear Lake | Data USA
- University of Houston-Clear Lake Admissions - BigFuture
- University of Houston--Clear Lake Admissions
- University of Houston - Clear Lake SAT Scores and GPA
