OU vs. UH

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus and University of Houston side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
University of Houston

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: UH (73.9% admitted vs 76.6%). Typical SAT 1250 vs 1240.
  • Cheaper after aid: UH. Average net price is $14,309 vs $18,574 at OU.
  • Graduation: OU 67% vs UH 46%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: OU $59,300 vs UH $59,000 (median).
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Key differences

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus University of Houston
Acceptance rate
UH more selective
OU76.6%
UH73.9%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UH higher
OU1140-1330
UH1160-1340
Average net price
UH $4,265 less
OU$18,574
UH$14,309
In-state tuition
UH $80 less
OU$9,797
UH$9,717
Out-of-state tuition
UH $4,830 less
OU$27,377
UH$22,547
Graduation rate
OU +21 pts
OU67%
UH46%
Median earnings (10 years)
OU +$300
OU$59,300
UH$59,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • OU 24,893
  • UH 31,716
  • Admitted
  • OU 19,069
  • UH 23,446
  • Acceptance rate
  • OU 76.6%
  • UH 73.9%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • OU 29.3%
  • UH 26.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • OU 1240
  • UH 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • OU 26
  • UH 26
  • Average high school GPA
  • OU 3.66
  • UH 3.46
  • Typical high school grades
  • OU A-
  • UH B+
  • Admissions standards
  • OU Difficult
  • UH Difficult
  • Applicant competition
  • OU
  • UH Low
  • SAT range
  • OU 1140-1330
  • UH 1160-1340
  • ACT range
  • OU 23-29
  • UH 23-29
  • Submit test scores
  • OU Test optional
  • UH Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • OU Feb 1, 2027
  • UH May 31, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • OU $9,797
  • UH $9,717
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • OU $27,377
  • UH $22,547
  • Room & board
  • OU $13,630
  • UH $11,286
  • Average net price
  • OU $18,574
  • UH $14,309
  • Average grant aid
  • OU $11,356
  • UH $12,159
  • % receiving grant aid
  • OU 99%
  • UH 74%
  • Graduation rate
  • OU 67%
  • UH 46%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • OU $59,300
  • UH $59,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • OU 68%
  • UH 61%
  • Median student loan debt
  • OU $20,000
  • UH $19,750
  • Median loan payment
  • OU $206
  • UH $204
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • OU 18:1
  • UH 22:1
  • Popular majors
  • OU
    • Business (20%)
    • General Studies (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • UH
    • Business (30%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • School basics

  • Location
  • OU Norman, OK
  • UH Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • OU Small Suburban
  • UH Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • OU 30,851
  • UH 47,980
  • Type
  • OU Public 4 Year
  • UH Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • OU #245
  • UH #449

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Oklahoma Norman Campus in Norman, OK with University of Houston in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Houston is larger than OU based on total student enrollment (47,980 students vs. 30,851 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is located in Norman, OK (Small Suburban setting); University of Houston is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Houston is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Oklahoma Norman Campus 18:1; University of Houston 22:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Houston are 17.2% lower than at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($11,286 vs. $13,630).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.4% higher at OU than at University of Houston (about $4,830 more per year; $27,377 vs. $22,547).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than at University of Houston (99% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Houston students is 7.1% larger than aid received by University of Oklahoma Norman Campus students ($12,159 vs. $11,356).

Admissions details

  • Incoming OU students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 26) as students at UH (26).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both OU and UH.
  • Typical fall application deadline: OU Feb 1, 2027; UH May 31, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at OU average a 3.66 high school GPA, 0.2 higher than at UH (3.46).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.3% at OU vs. 26.5% at UH.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Houston graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than OU graduates ($19,750 vs. $20,000).
  • Among borrowers, UH graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OU graduates ($204 vs. $206).
  • More OU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UH students, three years after graduation (68% vs. 61%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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