NSU vs. UHCL

Comparable Facts

Compare Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK with University of Houston Clear Lake in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Houston Clear Lake is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 6,751 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northeastern State University is located in Tahlequah, OK (Remote Town setting); University of Houston Clear Lake is in Houston, TX (Large Suburban setting).
• Northeastern State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Houston Clear Lake is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northeastern State University 16:1; University of Houston Clear Lake 15:1.

NSU vs. UHCL Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU or UHCL? 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 Northeastern State University than UHCL ($12,410 vs. $14,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern State University are 12% lower than at University of Houston Clear Lake ($11,120 vs. $12,642).
• Northeastern State University is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UHCL (about $40 more per year; $7,810.00 vs. $7,770.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.1% higher at UHCL than at Northeastern State University (about $3,824 more per year; $21,114.00 vs. $17,290.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northeastern State University than at University of Houston Clear Lake (83% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Houston Clear Lake students is 42% larger than aid received by Northeastern State University students ($12,630 vs. $8,893).

NSU vs. UHCL Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NSU or UHCL? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UHCL and NSU.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of Houston Clear Lake (1060) is 60 points higher than at NSU (1000).
• Incoming UHCL students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (22 vs. 20 at NSU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Northeastern State University 866/1136; University of Houston Clear Lake 970/1150.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Northeastern State University 18/23; University of Houston Clear Lake 20/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NSU - Test optional; UHCL - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UHCL Jun 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman NSU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at UHCL (3.39).
• NSU has a higher acceptance rate (99.6%) than UHCL (90.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 39% at NSU vs. 22.2% at UHCL.

NSU vs. UHCL Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NSU and UHCL? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Northeastern State University's six-year graduation rate is 26%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for UHCL.
• Graduates from University of Houston Clear Lake earn a median of about $13,500 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,700 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Houston Clear Lake graduates have a $850 lower median loan debt than NSU graduates ($17,150 vs. $18,000).
• Among borrowers, UHCL graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSU graduates ($177 vs. $186).
• More UHCL graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 48%)

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.