University of Houston-Downtown Acceptance Rate, Admissions & Graduation

I am going to show you what the federal government reports about this university: who studies there, how much it costs, who gets in, who stays, and who finishes. I am not going to tell you whether it is the right school for your child. An article cannot decide that. What I can give you is the complete map of one of the three pieces you need to make a sound decision: what the university really is. Only you know the other two—what your child wants and what your family can afford.

Who This University Is

University of Houston-Downtown is in Houston, Texas, within Harris County, in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metropolitan area. It is a large city, with 250,000 residents or more, so if your child plans to live at home while studying, I recommend something simple: drive the route yourself on a weekday, at the exact time of your child’s classes. The actual travel time is almost never what the map promises.

It is a public four-year institution, classified by the government as a master’s university with larger programs. That means it offers bachelor’s degrees as well as graduate programs, although the data do not tell you whether the exact major your child is interested in is offered there or whether it connects to a graduate program afterward. Ask the university directly.

One fact is worth clarifying right away: University of Houston-Downtown has none of these three special 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 separate answers, and their absence says nothing about whom the school serves or how your child will feel there. Investigate that by asking about the cultural centers and student organizations that exist today.

According to the most recent official classification, it is also a primarily nonresidential institution. This means that either fewer than one in four students live on campus or fewer than half attend full time—the data do not clarify which of the two conditions applies here. If your child will commute every day, tuition is not the only thing you need to budget for: there is also the bus, gas, and hours spent traveling.

A Large, Young, and Predominantly Latino Community

In the fall of 2023, this university reported an enrollment of 14,105 students. It is a large school—the government places it in the range of between 10,000 and 19,999 students—and compared with 519 other selective-admission, public four-year schools, its size is among the most common: neither among the largest nor the smallest, but in the middle of the group.

Of those 14,105, 12,880 are undergraduates and 1,225 are graduate students. Above all, it is a bachelor’s-degree institution.

Here is the fact that probably matters most to you: 58 out of every 100 undergraduate students identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino. That is half or more, and compared with 519 similar schools, it is among those reporting the highest proportion. If your child is worried about feeling like the only Latino student in a classroom, the numbers do not show that here.

But I need to tell you something very clearly, because it is easy to confuse the two: a high percentage of Latino students is not the same as specific support for Latino students. The data count how many there are. They do not say whether there are Spanish-speaking counselors or targeted tutoring, or whether those students complete their degrees at a higher rate. Ask about that separately, using the program’s specific name.

Other features of this community: 42 out of every 100 undergraduate students are between 25 and 64 years old—it is not only a school for recent high school graduates. There are more women than men: 62 out of every 100. And nearly all, 99 out of every 100 of those who entered for the first time, reported a permanent address in Texas when they applied. To a large extent, this is a university that serves its own state.

How the Academic Year Works

The calendar follows semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. The university reported accepting two forms of prior credit: credit for AP exams and credit for what IPEDS calls “life experience”—including independent study, work experience, and prior licenses or certifications. It also accepts credit for military training.

Here is a hard truth that will save you headaches: the university’s statement that it accepts AP does not mean it will award credit for every exam. We do not know what scores it requires, how many credits it awards, or whether those credits will count toward your child’s specific major. Request the equivalency evaluation in writing before enrolling. Do not budget for the savings until you have it in hand.

A separate but important fact if your child is still in high school: this university reported that it does not enroll high school students in college courses for credit.

Between July 2022 and June 2023, the university awarded 2,824 bachelor’s degrees. Business and management was by far the academic field with the most degrees: 1,003 of the 2,824, or 36 out of every 100. The range is broad—20 different fields of study reported activity—but concentrated in one area. That figure does not describe the current offerings or the quality of any particular program; it only tells you where the volume is concentrated. Always verify the exact program your child is interested in.

Regarding class size, the university reports 18 students for every full-time-equivalent faculty member. This is a middle-range ratio compared with similar schools, but when compared only with schools of its same type, it falls in the quarter with the highest ratio. Both readings are true at the same time, and neither tells you the actual size of a first-year class. That information is not included in this figure.

The university also reports structured opportunities such as study abroad, undergraduate research, a complete program that can be taken only during evenings or weekends, and teacher-certification pathways, among others. Their inclusion in the report confirms that they exist as stated options; it does not confirm capacity, cost, or availability for your child’s major.

Getting In: What They Require and What They Do Not

University of Houston-Downtown does not have open admission. It reviews requirements before saying yes. Of nine possible considerations, it marked five as required: the high school record, grade point average, class rank, completion of the required college-preparatory curriculum, and an English-proficiency exam for applicants to whom it applies. By contrast, it stated that it does not consider a personal essay, letters of recommendation, a portfolio, work experience, or whether a relative attended the university.

If your child studied outside the United States or attended high school in Spanish, this is the time to ask about the English-proficiency exam. It is marked as required when applicable, and it is one of those things families discover too late.

The application fee is $50.

And now the central figure: in the 2023 cycle, out of every 100 people who applied, 91 received an offer of admission. Compared with 519 selective-admission, public four-year schools, it is on the more accessible side. Even so, 651 of the 6,953 applicants did not receive an offer. Admission is likely here, but it is not automatic, and the complete application must be submitted on time.

Here is a distinction many families overlook: receiving a yes is not the same as deciding to attend. Out of every 100 admitted students, only 24 enrolled. The other 76 had a place here and chose something else. Do not read this as a mark against the university—the federal record does not say why each person made that choice. And do not read it as a sign for your child either: what others decided does not predict what your child will be offered. What matters is waiting for your letter with the actual net price, because with that number in hand, you can decide whether this school stays on the list.

Regarding tests, the SAT and ACT are not required. Of the students who enrolled, 43 out of every 100 submitted SAT scores, and among them, the middle half scored between 490 and 560 in reading and writing and between 470 and 550 in math. Those numbers describe students who enrolled and submitted scores, not all applicants. That 490 is not a minimum your child must reach, and that 560 does not guarantee anything either.

Regarding transfers, here is one fact worth keeping in mind: among the bachelor’s-degree-seeking cohort that entered in 2017, 31 out of every 100 transferred to another school without completing here. That is a high proportion compared with similar schools. And it comes with an important warning: a student who transfers is not counted as a graduate of this university, even if the student finishes a degree elsewhere. Keep that in mind when you read the graduation figures below.

What It Costs and What You Will Actually Pay

At University of Houston-Downtown, among 455 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 $13,486. Among 155 students in the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $16,332; among 30 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $22,498. For dependent students, the range combines their parents’ income with their own.

The difference between the average for the lowest-income range (455 students) and the average for the highest-income range (30 students) is $9,012. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $14,269.

Among the 519 schools of the same type and control included in this census that reported this figure with the same period of coverage, this university falls within the most expensive quarter for the lowest-income families. That does not mean you should rule it out. It means you should request the financial aid letter before deciding.

The income ranges in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at this public institution, 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; it also uses that rate. If your family lives outside the state or district, the calculation is different. Ask about it before applying.

The Aid That Does Arrive and the Debt You Need to Understand

78 out of every 100 students received some grant or scholarship aid that does not have to be repaid. The average amount of that aid, counting only those who received it, was $5,946 per year. And federal Pell aid—for families with demonstrated financial need—reached 52 out of every 100 students. Applying for this aid is not unusual here: half the group or more received it. Do not hesitate to ask what documents are required and when they are due.

Regarding loans, 30 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal loan in the 2022-23 academic year. That is more than two out of ten, but less than half. Among those who did borrow, the average for the year was $8,006. Compared with similar schools, this university is on the low side in the proportion of students with loans.

But I want to be precise with you here, because this number is easy to misinterpret: that average covers only one year and counts only federal loans in the student’s name. It does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, debt from banks, or credit cards. Nor is it the total debt a student has upon graduation—that would require adding together all the years, and that number is not in this report.

This percentage describes other families, not yours. The amount your child would need to borrow comes only from your child’s own financial aid letter. Wait for that letter before ruling out the school and before committing to it.

The university also reports mechanisms for managing payment: a guaranteed tuition plan, a prepaid tuition plan, installment payments, and participation in a Promise program. It is worth asking about each one by its specific name.

Campus Life: What Is Available and What Is Not

It is best to be direct here, because some families imagine a college experience that this school does not offer. University of Houston-Downtown does not have its own housing: it offers no residence halls or apartments under its control, either on or off campus. It also does not report meal plans. This does not mean the official financial aid budget ignores off-campus housing and food—it does include estimates for them—but it does mean your child will need to arrange housing independently, and you will need to confirm the exact budget that financial aid would use for that portion.

Regarding athletics, the university reports that it does not participate in intercollegiate athletics and does not belong to any national athletic association. If athletics are an important part of your child’s plan, this fact matters. Ask whether intramural leagues or sports clubs are available—a club is not the same as a competitive varsity team.

Regarding ROTC, there is a reported opportunity in two branches, Army and Air Force. Navy is not included. Its inclusion does not mean the program is offered on this specific campus; ask for the program’s name before building a plan around it.

Regarding distance education, 34 out of every 100 undergraduate students took all their classes online. That is a high proportion compared with similar schools. But this number describes the entire undergraduate population together, not your child’s specific major. One major may be offered almost entirely online while the one next to it is offered almost entirely on campus.

The library operates with paid staff, has physical and digital materials, and offers interlibrary loans. Its annual spending exceeds the threshold the government uses to consider it a substantial operation. But exceeding that threshold does not guarantee that it has the specific databases required for your child’s major; ask for them by name.

Finally, the university reports combined academic and career counseling services, employment services for current students, placement services upon program completion, a dedicated point of contact for veterans and military personnel, a student veterans organization, and a services page for people with disabilities. The reporting of these services confirms that they exist; it does not confirm their quality or effectiveness. You learn that by speaking with people who already use them.

How Many Stay and How Many Finish

This is probably the most difficult section about this university, and I would rather tell you plainly.

Of the full-time cohort that entered in 2022, 67 out of every 100 were still enrolled here or had already completed a bachelor’s degree one year later. This is a partial retention measure: the source does not separate those who were still enrolled from those who had already finished, and it does not explain what happened to the rest. Compared with similar schools, this university ranks in the lower part of the group.

Part-time students who entered that same fall had a retention outcome of 47 out of every 100—this is a different cohort and should not be compared directly with the previous one.

Now for graduation. Of the 853 first-time, full-time bachelor’s-degree-seeking students who entered in 2017, 288 were shown as having earned a degree here six years later: 34 out of every 100. At four years, the timeframe most families budget for, the figure is only 15 out of every 100—19 points lower than at six years. Compared with similar schools, it falls in the bottom quarter.

It is worth looking at the full breakdown of those 853 students, because it tells a more complete story than the percentage alone:

Remember what we saw in the transfer section: students who transfer are not counted as graduates of this school, even if they finish their degrees elsewhere. And “no longer enrolled” does not say why they left or rule out that some completed their degrees after the official timeframe. Most of this cohort are not shown as having earned a degree here within the measured timeframe, and that is a reality that must be faced directly, not a verdict on what will happen to your child.

There is also a third, broader measure worth knowing: following a cohort of 4,156 students who entered between July 2015 and June 2016—this count combines first-time students with students who already had credits from another school, as well as full-time and part-time students—at the eight-year mark, 55 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this institution. Among those who received a Pell Grant, the figure rises slightly: 57 out of every 100. But if we isolate only first-time, full-time students—the group most similar to a typical recent high school graduate—the figure falls to 34 out of every 100, 21 points lower. Whom you count radically changes the number.

What Depends on Whom

You now know, in considerable depth, one of the three pieces you need to decide: what University of Houston-Downtown really is, according to what it reports to the federal government.

It is the university’s responsibility to admit students, offer aid, and sustain its programs. It is your child’s responsibility to decide what to study, work hard in the classroom, and build a path within the university. Your responsibility is different: understand your family’s finances, request the financial aid letter before committing to anything, verify in writing what this article cannot confirm—AP equivalencies, the actual housing budget, and availability of the exact major—and support the decision without carrying it alone or leaving your child to carry it alone.

Combine this with what your child wants and what your child has built so far. Combine it with what your family can and is willing to pay. A plan comes from that combination, not from this article alone.

Source note: the information in this article comes from data that University of Houston-Downtown reported to the U.S. Department of Education’s IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System), corresponding primarily to the years 2022-23 and 2023-24. Best College Aid does not represent University of Houston-Downtown or any government agency; this article organizes and explains public data to help families understand them.