Universities in Houston, The United States

Houston, the fourth-largest city in the United States, has universities of very different sizes and profiles: a private research university, a Catholic university in the arts district, two public universities of the University of Houston System and one of the country's largest historically Black universities. Our directory lists five universities in the city; the list below the text shows them all.

How university study works in the United States

According to EducationUSA, the State Department's study portal, nearly 4,000 accredited institutions make up US higher education. A bachelor's degree takes four or five years and a master's degree usually two. Public universities, also called state universities, were founded and subsidised by the states to give their own residents a low-cost education; private universities are funded by endowments, gifts, research grants and tuition. The academic year typically runs from September to May in two semesters of 16 to 18 weeks.

What the universities offer

• Rice University is a private research university on a 300-acre wooded campus. It was chartered in 1891 and opened as the Rice Institute in 1912. It has 4,776 undergraduates and 4,104 graduate students.
• University of St. Thomas has been Houston's Catholic university since 1947. Its campus is in the Montrose area, and its students come from 51 countries.
• University of Houston-Clear Lake opened in 1974; the idea for it came from the director of the Spaceflight Center, who wanted locally trained professionals for the US space programme. It has more than 7,770 students and also teaches at UHCL at Pearland and UHCL at Texas Medical Center.
• University of Houston-Downtown, in the city centre since 1974, offers bachelor's degrees in 47 areas of study and 12 master's degrees, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 18 to 1.
• Texas Southern University was founded in 1927 and is one of the largest historically Black universities in the country. It has more than 8,400 students and over 100 undergraduate and graduate programmes in ten colleges and schools.

Costs

Public universities in Texas charge a lower rate to Texas residents and a higher out-of-state rate to everyone else, so international students should look at the out-of-state figure. According to NCES College Navigator, undergraduate tuition and fees in 2024-25 were $7,708 in-state and $17,548 out-of-state at UH-Downtown, and $7,770 in-state and $21,114 out-of-state at UH-Clear Lake. Texas Southern gives $23,984 a year for out-of-state undergraduates. At private Rice University tuition and fees were $64,144, plus $18,100 for food and housing on campus.

Practical tips

• Visa: degree students need an F student visa. Once a school certified by SEVP has admitted you, its international student office sends the Form I-20 that you need for the visa application.
• Work: according to EducationUSA, international students may work on campus up to 20 hours a week in their first year, with the permission of the international student office.
• Transport: A METRO local bus or METRORail ride costs $1.25, and students ride for half price ($0.60) with a discount fare card; college students apply with a photo ID and a class schedule or a letter from their college.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities in Houston are public?

In our list, the University of Houston-Clear Lake, the University of Houston-Downtown and Texas Southern University are public. Rice University and the University of St. Thomas are private.

How much does a university in Houston cost for an international student?

Out-of-state undergraduate tuition and fees at the public universities in our list were between about $17,500 and $24,000 a year in 2024-25. At Rice University they were $64,144.

Can I work while studying in Houston?

With the permission of the international student office, students on an F visa may work on campus up to 20 hours a week in their first year, according to EducationUSA.

Is there a student discount on public transport in Houston?

Yes. METRO lets students ride local buses and METRORail for half price with a discount fare card.