Colleges in Houston: A Complete List

They say everything’s bigger in Texas — and that’s definitely true in Houston, one of the Lone Star State’s largest and most cosmopolitan cities. Whether you’re a born-and-raised Texan or from out of state, there are many public and private colleges to choose from.

The Houston area was America’s second-fastest-growing population center from 2021-2022 and offers bountiful opportunities for jobs and internships. Continue exploring this page to learn more about colleges in Houston.

Here are a few of the most popular colleges in Houston. When choosing these, we considered factors like number of applicants, academics, and overall prestige.

Below, we’ve compiled a complete list of all four-year nonprofit universities in Houston and the surrounding area. You can use the table below to compare data on student populations, average net costs, acceptance rates, and number of applicants.

The following school data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). All data is from 2022. Schools with fewer than 500 undergraduates are not included in this list.

As a fast-growing metropolitan area, Houston is home to a variety of high-paying jobs for college graduates. For example, aspiring financial professionals can find plenty of opportunities. Financial managers in the Houston area earned an average annual wage of $176,090 in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

If you’re hoping to earn a six-figure salary in the Houston area, other high-paying occupations include human resource managers and architectural and engineering managers. Houston also has a large healthcare sector, although many of these jobs require graduate-level education.

As a major metropolitan area, Houston has a higher cost of living than the more rural parts of Texas. But it’s still relatively affordable compared to the United States as a whole.

According to Payscale, the cost of living in Houston is roughly 8% lower than the national average, meaning that you can expect more affordable housing, groceries, and tuition than in many other cities.

Nonetheless, it’s important to plan a budget and track your expenses. This can help you avoid overspending, and it’s good practice for once you’ve graduated.

Houston has eight nonprofit four-year colleges and universities, including public and private institutions. This number does not include two-year institutions (such as community colleges) or entirely online programs without a Houston-based campus.

The cost of college in Houston varies significantly from person to person. Whether you’re eligible for in-state tuition, whether you’ll be living on campus or staying with family and commuting, and what scholarship offers you receive will impact the out-of-pocket cost of your college education in Houston.

According to NCES data from the 2020-2021 school year, the average cost of tuition and fees at public four-year schools in Texas was $8,016 for in-state students and $25,471 for out-of-state students.

The cheapest college in Houston is Texas Southern University, with an average annual cost of $11,826. However, which college is the cheapest for you to attend will depend on your scholarships and other financial aid, the availability of in-state tuition, commuting and housing costs, and more.

Houston is a fantastic place to live, work, and study for many students and residents. You can choose from dozens of degree and certification programs in the wider metro area.

Although Houston is the largest city in Texas, living costs are lower than those of other major American cities. Additionally, robust industries and a fast-growing job market — particularly in fields like healthcare, energy, transportation, and scientific and technical services — allow you to access various career opportunities.