Is the University of Houston a Good School? An Expert Evaluation

As the second largest university in Texas, the University of Houston (UH) is home to over 46,000 students seeking quality academics at an affordable price. But how good is UH really? As a higher education expert and insider, I have conducted an in-depth evaluation across key areas to determine if UH is a good option for prospective students.

Top-Tier Offerings Spanning Over 300 Academic Programs

With an incredibly expansive catalog spanning arts and sciences, engineering, education, law and more, UH offers academic riches at every turn.

We’ll start with a peek at some of the top undergraduate offerings across UH’s 14 colleges and schools:

• Engineering: Chemical engineering (#30 nationally), industrial engineering (#8) and petroleum engineering (#13) all place among the highest in their fields. New state-of-the-art facilities like Engineering Building 2 cement UH’s facilities among the nation’s best.

• Hotel and Restaurant Management: #1 in Texas and #2 nationally, this renowned program mixes classroom fundamentals with hands-on learning in a $70 million teaching facility. Graduates regularly land competitive positions with leading hospitality brands.

• Supply Chain Management: #11 in undergraduate supply chain education and #2 for graduate studies, this powerhouse churns out highly recruited talent to meet industry demand.

• Psychology: One of the country’s largest psychology programs at over 3,000 students, undergrads gain practical research experience early through mentored lab work resulting in coveted co-authorships on studies.

Beyond the rankings, UH maintains excellent student-faculty ratios averaging 20:1 university-wide and as low as 18:1 in popular colleges like engineering and business. Small class sizes coupled with prominent teaching and research faculty foster rich, personalized learning experiences. The university also dedicates extensive resources and facilities like the M.D. Anderson Library, Science & Research buildings, and the $60+ million College of Medicine building opened in 2020.

Standout Graduate Programs

While UH shines bright for undergraduates, its graduate offerings also impress:

• The Master of Business Administration blends academic excellence with real-world experience thanks to Houston’s booming economy. Concentrations in energy, healthcare and entrepreneurship leverage the city’s core industries.

• Master‘s in Human Resource Management offers 90%+ career outcomes within 3 months of graduation. The 30-credit program can be completed part-time in just 2 years.

• Master‘s in Industrial Engineering allows students to select a focus in engineering management, data science, quality control and more. The program lands among the Top 15 nationwide.

• Master of Laws (LLM) provides international attorneys an edge by developing expertise in high-demand practice areas like energy, environment, IP law and more.

Prospective graduate students considering UH can expect small classes (averaging under 20 students), mentoring from leading Houston professionals, and unrivaled hands-on learning. Whether seeking to advance in a career or bridge to a Ph.D., UH delivers excellence.

The UH campus spans over 650 acres in southeast Houston. Modern buildings house cutting-edge facilities alongside green spaces for study and recreation.

Campus Life as Vibrant as Houston Itself

Beyond the classrooms, the experience of campus life plays a major role in student satisfaction. At UH, students can make the most of:

Housing to Suit Every Style

• Freshmen housing clusters predominantly in Moody Towers – two 18-story high rises housing over 2,300 students in standard double rooms. Cougar Village offers apartment-style doubles as an alternative.

• Upperclassmen dwell in the on-campus Calhoun Lofts or the Quadrangle apartments starting at $799/month. Juniors and seniors may also apply to be Resident Assistants (RAs) for subsidized room and board.

• Specialty housing exists across campus as well, like the Honors College residence hall, Engineering-themed houses, and Living Learning Communities focused on Health and Wellness, Creative Arts, Global Engagement and more.

With over 70% of students living on campus, UH residence halls foster tight-knit communities.

Dining Satisfies Every Craving

Across over 30 eateries spanning full-service restaurants, food courts, coffee shops and markets, the most discerning foodies can find campus grub that hits the spot. Some highlights include:

• Cat‘s Back Restaurant features student performers and scratch-cooked classics like chicken fried steak, pot roast and mac & cheese.

• Blaze Pizza, Panda Express, Raising Canes and more offer familiar and diverse quick bites across campus.

• Einstein Bros Bagels fuels early morning classes alongside specialty coffee bars like Shasta’s Cones Etc.

And the dining team sources ingredients sustainably while providing ample vegetarian, vegan and halal options. No cougar appetite goes unsatisfied!

Recreation to Relax and Recharge

Whether pursuing Division I athletics or intramural sports, pushing physical limits or finding zen, UH cultivates well-being through world-class recreation.

The main fitness hub, the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center wows with:

• 100,000+ sq ft of cardio and weight rooms
• Multi-court gymnasium
• Aquatic center with lap and leisure pools
• 40+ weekly group fitness classes like yoga, cycling and CrossFit

The outdoor Lynn Eusan Park provides a more serene space for yoga sessions to reading under a shady oak. With recreational opportunities rounding out campus life, students retain balance alongside academic success.

Affordable Tuition Augmented by Generous Aid

Understanding the true cost to attend any university remains top-of-mind for students and families. Here’s the latest tuition and fees breakdown:

Fees	In-State	Out-of-State
Tuition	$11,352	$21,365
Required Fees	$2,210	$2,210
Room and Board	$10,010	$10,010
Books & Supplies	$1,000	$1,000
Total	$24,572	$34,585

To place these numbers in context:

• In-state costs run 20% less than competitor UT-Austin
• Out-of-state costs tally nearly 40% below leading flagships like Texas A&M

While UH keeps costs low, even an affordable education remains out of reach for some. That’s where financial aid comes in – 65% of enrolled students receive some form of aid:

• Grants/Scholarships: Avg aid is $9,442 per student
• Federal Loans: Avg $7,515 across 48% of students
• Work-Study Programs: Over 5,000 students annually

Competitive aid like the Tier One scholarship also attract high-performing applicants, covering nearly full tuition and fees.

Low Student Debt and Strong Outcomes

For graduates, minimizing debt while maximizing career success remains top priority. UH outcomes shine on both counts:

• The average student debt tally clocks in below state and national benchmarks at $22,557.
• The three-year federal loan default rate stands at just 5.1% compared to 8.2% statewide.
• Over 90% of recent graduates actively repaying loans stay current.

High rates of on-time repayment and low defaults signal students emerge career-ready to earn livable wages. We’ll now turn to employment and earnings metrics.

Admission Competitive But Attainable

While admission to top-tier universities grows increasingly selective, UH practices holistic review emphasizing essays, leadership and grit alongside scores. For Fall 2022, UH received over 35K applications and admitted nearly 22K, representing a 63% acceptance rate on par with other prominent in-state institutions.

The middle 50% of admitted students presented academic profiles including:

• High school GPA between 3.6 and 4.1 unweighted
• SAT scores landing from 1110 to 1310
• ACT composite scores spanning 23 to 29

Comparing to Ivy League schools at under 10% admission rates or elite liberal arts colleges sub-20%, prospective students enjoy favorable odds at UH. And dynamic holistic review allows for special circumstances and talents to augment applications as well.

Graduates See Strong Career Prospects

Across key student success markers – graduation, employment and earnings, selectivity of graduate programs, alumni leadership and more – UH statistical and anecdotal outcomes bolster its reputation.

Graduation and Retention

• 59% graduate within 6 years – on par for public university peers
• 81% freshmen retention rivals top flagship graduation rates
• Student support programs like the C.T. Bauer FRESH peer mentoring drive retention

UH graduation rates consistently top the rates of other diverse public research universities (DRPUs).

Theserates signal admitted students persist towards degrees and access ample academic support along their journey at UH.

Career Prep and Post-Graduate Salaries

Success also ties closely to gainful employment empowering livable wages and loan repayment. For UH graduates:

• 94% secure jobs or continue education within 6 months of graduation
• Average starting salary lands at $55K, exceeding regional and national averages
• Early to mid-career pay growth potential proves steep in hot fields – over $130K for engineers and computer scientists and $90K for accountants

UH Career services facilitates internships, job placement and upskilling. And Houston‘s heavyweight industries from energy to aerospace, healthcare to port logistics feed steady pipeline demand.

Standout Alumni Anchored in Houston

Finally, the true testament of a university comes from who graduates leave its halls. As an anchor institution and Houston‘s largest university for over 90 years, UH minted generations of hometown leaders including:

Arts and Culture

• Jim Parsons, Actor known for The Big Bang Theory
• Lyle Lovett, 4x Grammy Award winning musician
• Dennis Quaid, Acclaimed actor in films like The Right Stuff

Business

• Gerald Hines, Founder of pioneering real estate firm Hines Interests
• Tillman Fertitta, Billionaire CEO of Landry‘s Restaurant empire & owner of the NBA‘s Houston Rockets
• Charles Tate, Energy investment magnate and UH donor

Public Service

• Sylvester Turner, Current mayor of Houston
• Gene Locke, Former City Attorney instrumental in Houston‘s growth

Sciences

• Daniel Danciu, Laser physicist who helped usher in LASIK eye surgery
• Carolyn Beatrice Parker, Mechanical and bioengineer working on electric car batteries

Social Activism

• Josie Michelle, Founder of Houston‘s chapter of Black Lives Matter

The breadth of impact and influence affirms UH as launchpad for leadership across Houston‘s pivotal industries and communities.

From nursing to NASA and energy to creative arts, UH propels Houston talent across sectors. For prospective students seeking:

• Top-tier academics fueled by prominent research and dedicated faculty
• An affordable, holistic education with generous aid
• A vibrant campus life befitting the diverse thriller that is Houston

The University of Houston checks every box. With graduates thriving from dynamic careers that give back to Houston and beyond, I recommend UH as among the top choices within Texas higher education.