University of Houston-Clear Lake is one of those universities you probably do not know well yet. This article will not tell you whether it is “the right one” for your child—no one can tell you that without knowing your child and your family. What I can do is put before you, plainly and without fear, what official United States government data say about it. After that, the decision still belongs to you and your child.
What Kind of School It Is, and Where It Stands
University of Houston-Clear Lake is a public, four-year university located in Houston, Texas, within Harris County and the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metropolitan area. That does not mean it is right in the heart of the city—the census code places it within a city, but that tells you where it is, not how you get there. If your child plans to live at home and drive every day, do your child a favor: travel the route on a weekday at the exact time of the scheduled classes. GPS almost never tells the full truth about actual traffic.
The Carnegie system, which classifies this country’s universities by what they do, places it among doctoral and professional universities. But it also describes it as a medium-sized and “primarily nonresidential” school—which, in simple terms, means that fewer than one in four undergraduate students live in institution-provided housing, or that fewer than half study full time. The data do not distinguish exactly which of the two conditions applies, and they also do not mean that there are no residence halls (there are, and we will return to that). Keep this in mind: between 2018 and 2021, Carnegie changed this category for the university. If an older guide describes it differently, that is not an error—it means that the school, or the way it was measured, changed.
IPEDS, the federal system that collects these data, also records the university as offering programs through the doctoral level as its highest level. That is a general institutional fact: it does not tell you whether the specific field your child is interested in goes through that level, or whether there is a clear path from undergraduate to graduate study in that field. That must be asked program by program.
And one point worth stating clearly: University of Houston-Clear Lake has none of these three federal designations: it is not a historically Black college or university (HBCU), it is not a tribal college or university, and it is not a land-grant institution. Those are three different histories, and only 138 of the 3,012 universities in this census have at least one of them. Having none of them says nothing about which communities the university serves well or poorly—that must be asked directly by speaking with the school and current students.
The Size of the Community, and Who Makes It Up
In the reported fall term, University of Houston-Clear Lake had 8,211 students enrolled in total. It is neither a tiny school nor a massive one—it falls right within the band from 5,000 to 9,999, one of the most common bands among similar schools. But that large number includes both undergraduate and graduate students: 6,108 are undergraduates and 2,103 are graduate students. If your child is about to begin a bachelor’s degree, the number that matters to your child is 6,108, not the total.
Now for the figure that probably matters most to you: half or more of the undergraduate students, exactly 50 out of every 100, were reported as Hispanic or Latino. Among the 519 selective public four-year schools included in this census, that share is among the highest—nine out of ten reported an equal or lower figure. If your child is worried about feeling like the only Latino student in the classroom, this number, at least, does not point in that direction.
But beware of an easy trap: a high percentage of Latino students is not the same as specific support for Latino students. The figure counts how many there are, not whether counseling is available in Spanish, whether targeted tutoring is offered, or whether those students actually graduate. Counting is not the same as supporting. That must be asked separately.
Other facts about this community: 39 out of every 100 undergraduate students are between 25 and 64 years old—meaning that a considerable share did not arrive directly from high school but are adults returning to or advancing their education. There are more women than men: 62 out of every 100. And 95 out of every 100 first-time students reported a permanent address in Texas when applying. Above all, it is a Texas community.
How It Works Academically
The academic year is organized into semesters—two periods of about 15 weeks each, the standard calendar you probably already know. The institution reported that it accepts credit for AP exams, although it did not indicate that it accepts credit for life experience, and it does report accepting credit for military training. But here is a hard truth that could spare you an expensive surprise: saying “we accept AP” does not tell you what scores are required, how many credits are awarded, or whether those credits apply to your child’s exact degree program. Before your child counts on those savings in time or money, request the equivalency evaluation in writing. Do not include those savings in your budget until you have it in hand.
As for the program offerings: between July 2022 and June 2023, the school awarded 1,549 bachelor’s degrees across 21 fields of study. The field with the most graduates was business and management, with 22 out of every 100 degrees—not a small share, but not half of the school’s offerings either. It is a school with a broad range of offerings and no single dominant field.
Regarding class size: the reported ratio is 19 full-time-equivalent students for each full-time-equivalent instructional staff member. It is a middle-range figure on the overall scale, but when compared specifically with schools of the same type, it falls in the highest quarter—that is, among the schools with the highest student-to-faculty ratios in its comparison group. Both readings are true at the same time, and neither tells you the actual size of a first-year class; that is not included in this figure.
The institution also reports structured academic opportunities: study abroad, teacher certification preparation below the postsecondary level, and state approval for initial teacher certification programs. If your child’s field points toward teaching, this is worth investigating thoroughly.
How Admission Works
Here is one of the central facts about this school: University of Houston-Clear Lake stated that it does not have open admission. It reviews specific components before saying yes.
Of nine possible admission considerations, it marked four as required: the high school academic record, high school GPA, class rank, and an English proficiency exam for applicants to whom it applies. And here is something that surprises many families: the list of what is not considered is longer than the list of what is. The high school course plan, personal essay, letters of recommendation, portfolio or competency exam, work experience, and whether a family member studied there are not considered. Even if your child submits them, the report says they do not count toward the admission decision.
If your child studied outside the United States or attended high school in Spanish, put this on your calendar today: ask whether the English proficiency exam applies and what qualifies for an exemption. This is the kind of requirement families discover late, when there is no longer enough comfortable time to resolve it. The undergraduate application fee, by the way, is $45.
So, how difficult is it to get in? Of the 2,348 first-time applicants in the most recent cycle, 1,768 were offered admission. That is 75 out of every 100—seven or eight out of ten. It is an accessible admission rate, around the middle among similar schools. But “accessible” does not mean “automatic”: 580 applicants from that same group did not receive a yes, and this figure covers only one cycle. When it is your child’s turn, check the figure again for the year of application—it can change.
Here is something many families do not anticipate: out of every 100 students who were admitted, only 25 ultimately enrolled. The other 75 had acceptance letters in hand and decided to go elsewhere. Receiving a yes is not the same as deciding to attend—and this number, incidentally, does not measure quality or prestige, only how many accepted the place. When admission letters from several schools arrive, put them side by side and compare net price, degree program, and distance before the deposit deadline.
Regarding standardized tests: the SAT and ACT are not required here. It is a test-optional policy. Even so, 75 out of every 100 enrolled students submitted SAT scores—a high share compared with similar schools. Among those who submitted scores, the middle half scored between 500 and 590 in reading and writing, and between 490 and 580 in mathematics. These numbers are for students who enrolled and submitted scores, not for all applicants; that 500 is not a minimum for admission, and that 590 does not guarantee anything either.
One more fact that is rarely mentioned but matters greatly: of the bachelor’s-degree-seeking cohort that entered in 2017, 32 out of every 100 transferred to another school without completing a degree here. That is on the high side compared with similar schools. The report does not say why they left, and leaving does not mean they did poorly—it means only that their academic story continued elsewhere. But here is the hard truth: a student who transfers is not counted as a graduate of this school, even if that student completes the degree at another institution. Keep that fact in mind when you compare graduation rates later in this same article.
Money: What It Costs on Paper, and What Is Actually Paid
At University of Houston-Clear Lake, among 64 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid, paid the in-state or in-district rate, and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $7,818. Among 39 students from the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $9,994; among 24 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $22,367. For dependent students, the band combines their parents’ income with their own.
There is a difference of $14,549 between the average for the lowest-income band (64 students) and the average for the highest-income band (24 students). These are group averages, not a prediction of your family’s price. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $10,488.
The advertised price is not the same as the amount paid. Here, for students with low income, the average net price was $7,818 in academic year 2022-23.
Because the price changes so much from one income band to another, identifying the right band for your family comes first. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average with grant or scholarship aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The financial aid letter sent to you is what governs.
Grants, Loans, and Ways to Pay
Among degree-seeking students at this school, 59 out of every 100 received some type of aid that does not have to be repaid—a grant or scholarship. Among those who received it, the annual average was $7,296. Compared with similar schools, this share falls in the lowest quarter, meaning fewer students receive it here than at most peer schools. In addition, 44 out of every 100 received a Pell Grant, the federal aid intended for families with demonstrated financial need.
Here is a clarification worth its weight in gold when your financial aid letter arrives: the percentage who receive aid and the average amount they receive are two different calculations with different denominators. Do not multiply them together. And when you open that letter, separate it by hand into three piles: what does not have to be repaid, what must be repaid with interest, and what must be earned through work. Many letters mix them together in a single column as though they were the same thing.
Regarding loans: 29 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal student loan, with an average of $7,299 among those who borrowed. That is on the low side compared with similar schools. But this percentage describes other families, not yours—how much your child would need to borrow is determined by your child’s own financial aid letter, not this average. And take note: this figure does not include Parent PLUS loans signed by parents, credit cards, or debt accumulated over several years. It covers only one year and only federal loans in the student’s name.
To manage payments, the institution reports offering a guaranteed tuition plan and an installment payment plan. It is worth asking about both before deciding how to organize the family budget.
Life Outside the Classroom: Housing, Sports, the Library, and Support Services
University of Houston-Clear Lake does have institution-controlled housing, with a reported capacity of 552 students. Not everyone is required to live there—but that does not mean no program requires it; ask specifically about your child’s program. It also offers meal plans, although the number of meals per week varies by plan. The existence of the option does not guarantee a place: request the rate for the year, the application deadline, and written confirmation of whether a space is guaranteed or whether your child will join a waiting list.
Regarding ROTC: the institution did not mark any opportunity in its most recent report, neither the general option nor any specific branch. Of the 1,786 four-year institutions in this guide, 926 did mark it—this one was not among them. That does not prove there is no nearby path; if that scholarship matters to your family, ask about it directly before ruling it out.
Regarding sports: the school reports that it does not participate in intercollegiate athletics and does not belong to any national athletic association (neither NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, USCAA, NCCAA, nor any other category). If sports are part of your child’s plan, this matters to the decision—ask whether intramural leagues or clubs are available, which are not the same as an official college team.
Regarding instructional format: the school offers distance education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In the most recent count, 15 out of every 100 undergraduate students took their entire course load online, and 85 took at least one class in person. It also reports having at least one program that can be completed entirely through distance education—it is worth confirming whether that program is the one your child is interested in.
The library operates with paid staff and reports annual expenditures exceeding the $100,000 threshold tracked by the federal government. It has physical and digital materials and participates in interlibrary lending. Exceeding that threshold does not guarantee that it has the specific databases needed for your child’s degree program—that must be asked by program name.
Finally, the institution reports offering combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students, placement services after program completion, a dedicated point of contact for veterans and military personnel, a student veterans organization, and a disability services webpage. The fact that these services are reported does not guarantee their quality or effectiveness—that must be verified by speaking with the school and, if possible, with students who already use them.
The Students Who Stay, and Those Who Finish
Here we reach one of the most important parts, and also one of the hardest to read without dramatizing or softening it.
Of the first-time, full-time students who entered seeking a bachelor’s degree, 75 out of every 100 were still enrolled here or had already graduated one year later—the official retention criterion. Among part-time students that same year, the figure was 56 out of every 100. These are two different groups with different lives; do not mix those numbers together and assume that one proves something about the other.
Now to graduation, which is where the clock truly begins to matter. Of the first-time, full-time cohort that entered in 2017, 51 out of every 100 had earned a degree from this school six years later. It is, almost literally, half and half.
But look at what happens when you consider the four-year period—the one almost every family has in mind when building a budget: the figure falls to 26 out of every 100. There is a difference of 25 points between the four-year and six-year periods. The data do not say how many semesters each person attended and do not report tuition, rent, or wages. Before signing anything, ask directly how long students typically take to complete the specific degree program your child is interested in and how required courses are scheduled—whether there are bottlenecks that lengthen the path.
Compared with similar schools, this six-year graduation rate is below the comparison group’s median. It is a fact that must be faced plainly: in this cohort, nearly half did not complete a bachelor’s degree here within six years. The report does not explain why—it does not distinguish among those who went to another school (remember: they are not counted here as graduates, even if they finish elsewhere), those who paused their studies, or those who chose a different path.
There is a broader eight-year measure that includes both first-time students and students with prior postsecondary experience. In that measure, 64 out of every 100 members of that cohort had earned a degree or certificate from this school by the final reporting point. Among Pell Grant recipients, the figure was 66 out of every 100—slightly above the group without Pell Grants. And 15 out of every 100 had an “unknown” enrollment status, which does not mean they dropped out—it means only that the system could not determine where they were.
What This Means for Your Plan
You now know, in considerable detail, one of the three pieces you need to make this decision: what University of Houston-Clear Lake really is and offers. You know that it is a medium-sized public Texas school with a majority-Latino community, accessible but not automatic admission, a moderate list price compared with similar schools, financial aid that varies greatly by family income, and a graduation rate that demands a clear-eyed look: about half finish within six years, and a minority do so within four.
None of these numbers makes the decision for you. What you can do is combine them with what applies to your child—what your child wants to study, how far away your child is willing to live, how comfortable your child feels in a majority-Latino community, whether finishing in four years is urgent or whether more time is manageable—and with what applies to your family: which income band applies to you, how much you can pay without being overwhelmed, and which questions you still need to ask the school directly.
If you are just beginning to build a college list, use this article to decide whether it is worth having your child apply and which questions to take to the admissions office. If you already have the admission letter in hand, compare it with the actual net price you receive, not the list price. And if your child is already enrolled, ask from the first semester how the required courses for the degree program are scheduled—that fact, more than any other in this article, may prevent an unbudgeted fifth or sixth year.
You are not alone in drawing this map. But you are the one who must read it carefully before your child takes the wheel.
Source note: The information in this article comes from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and the United States Department of Education and corresponds to the periods and cohorts identified in the text (primarily the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles, and the 2015 and 2017 graduation cohorts). Best College Aid does not represent University of Houston-Clear Lake or any government agency; this article organizes and explains public data and does not replace the official or personalized information that only the institution itself can provide about your child’s specific situation.