ASU vs. UH

Deciding between Arizona State University and University of Houston? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Arizona State University
University of Houston

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ASU Tempe, AZ
  • UH Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • ASU Midsize City
  • UH Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • ASU 79,818
  • UH 47,980
  • Type
  • ASU Public 4 Year
  • UH Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ASU #398
  • UH #449
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ASU -
  • UH -
  • Status
  • ASU Non-profit
  • UH Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ASU
  • UH

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ASU $12,223
  • UH $9,717
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ASU $33,139
  • UH $22,547
  • Room & Board
  • ASU $16,712
  • UH $11,286
  • Average Net Price
  • ASU $17,779
  • UH $14,309
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ASU $12,172
  • UH $12,159
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ASU 89%
  • UH 74%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ASU 70,928
  • UH 31,716
  • Admitted
  • ASU 63,756
  • UH 23,446
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ASU 89.9%
  • UH 73.9%
  • Enrolled
  • ASU 22.1%
  • UH 26.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ASU 1210
  • UH 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • ASU 24
  • UH 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • ASU 3.54
  • UH 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ASU A-
  • UH B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ASU Challenging
  • UH Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • ASU
  • UH Low
  • ACT Range
  • ASU 21/28
  • UH 23/29
  • SAT Range
  • ASU 1100/1320
  • UH 1160/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ASU Test optional
  • UH Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ASU
  • UH May 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ASU 18:1
  • UH 22:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ASU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • UH
    • Business (30%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ASU 57%
  • UH 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ASU $52,600
  • UH $59,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ASU 57%
  • UH 61%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ASU $20,278
  • UH $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ASU $209
  • UH $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ASU 52%
  • UH 48%
  • % Women
  • ASU 48%
  • UH 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ASU High
  • UH Very High
  • HBCU
  • ASU No
  • UH No
  • % White
  • ASU 52%
  • UH 26%
  • % Asian
  • ASU 7%
  • UH 22%
  • % Black
  • ASU 4%
  • UH 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • ASU 19%
  • UH 32%
  • % Native American
  • ASU 1%
  • UH 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ASU 0%
  • UH 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ASU 4%
  • UH 3%
  • % International
  • ASU 12%
  • UH 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ASU 1%
  • UH 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ASU 63%
  • UH 93%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ASU 30%
  • UH 3%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ASU Yes
  • UH Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ASU No
  • UH No
  • Meal Plan
  • ASU Yes
  • UH Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ASU Yes
  • UH Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ASU Yes
  • UH Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ with University of Houston in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arizona State University is larger than UH based on total student enrollment (79,818 students vs. 47,980 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arizona State University is located in Tempe, AZ (Midsize City setting); University of Houston is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • Arizona State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Houston is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arizona State University 18:1; University of Houston 22:1.

ASU vs. UH Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or UH? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Houston than ASU ($14,309 vs. $17,779).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Houston are 32.5% lower than at Arizona State University ($11,286 vs. $16,712).
  • Arizona State University is 25.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UH (about $2,506 more per year; $12,223.00 vs. $9,717.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 47% higher at ASU than at University of Houston (about $10,592 more per year; $33,139.00 vs. $22,547.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arizona State University than at University of Houston (89% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arizona State University students is 0.1% larger than aid received by University of Houston students ($12,172 vs. $12,159).

ASU vs. UH Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or UH? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UH and ASU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Houston (1250) is 40 points higher than at ASU (1210).
  • Incoming UH students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at ASU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 1100/1320; University of Houston 1160/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 21/28; University of Houston 23/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ASU - Test optional; UH - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UH May 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ASU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at UH (3.46).
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than UH (73.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.1% at ASU vs. 26.5% at UH.

ASU vs. UH Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ASU and UH? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Arizona State University's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than University of Houston's (46%).
  • Graduates from University of Houston earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than ASU graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $52,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Houston graduates have a $528 lower median loan debt than ASU graduates ($19,750 vs. $20,278).
  • Among borrowers, UH graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ASU graduates ($204 vs. $209).
  • More UH graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.