Texas State University is a public research university in San Marcos, Texas, situated in a suburban area close to Austin. It is a large university that has around 36,206 undergraduate students. Admissions are moderately competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 88%. Its popular majors are Psychology, Business Administration, Exercise Science, Criminal Justice, and Biology. The six-year graduation rate is roughly 56%, and Texas State alumni take home a median salary of some US$42,210 based on the latest outcome measures.
University of Houston is a public research university located in Houston, Texas, in an urban location. It is large with roughly 37,946 undergraduates (your initial figure is close enough for undergrad count). Admissions are relatively competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 66%. Business, Psychology, Computer Science, Engineering, and Biology are top majors. The six-year graduation rate is around 63-65% (varies by cohort), and University of Houston alumni have a median salary of around US$48,424 per year in latest available data.
| Texas State University | University of Houston | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 4.1 Out of 10 | 4.8 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 1200 Times Higher Education 2026 # 1201 Times Higher Education 2025 # 1316 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 401 Times Higher Education 2026 # 556 QS World University 2026 # 267 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 801 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 1201 for Law by Times Higher Education 2023 | # 72 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 401 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 63 for Law by US News 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -51 PG Programs -49 | UG Programs -120 PG Programs -61 Doctorate Programs -7 |
| Acceptance Rate | 88.0 % | 66.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-6.5 SAT-1020 TOEFL-78 | IELTS-6.5 SAT-1110 TOEFL-79 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 20784.6 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 22284.6 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 24200 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 25991 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 25470 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 26559 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows: MBA: $140,000 Bachelor of Science: $60,000 Bachelor of Arts: $49,000 | Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows: Executive MBA: $192,000 MBA: $130,000 Masters in Science: $115,000 BBA: $84,000 Bachelor of Science: $68,000 Bachelor of Arts: $66,000 |
| application requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit English language scores Check program specific requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit English language scores Check program specific requirements |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.4/10 Read 2 reviews | 7.5/10 Read 15 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 120 for Business by US News 2025 # 601 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 | # 201 for Business by QS World University 2026 # 301 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 63 for Business by US News 2024 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 110/160IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 52/90TOEFL - 78/120 | Duolingo - 125/160GMAT - 610/800GRE - 305/340IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 70/90TOEFL - 100/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -33670 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Jun 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Fall Intake) | Apr 15, 2025 (Fee Depost deadline for Fall 2025 Intake) Apr 15, 2025 (Fee Depost deadline for Fall 2026 Intake) Oct 15, 2025 (Fee Depost deadline for Spring 2026 Intake) Oct 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake) Mar 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Fall 2025 Intake) Oct 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake) Mar 1, 2026 (Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Texas State University | University of Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1899 | 1927 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 21:1 |
| Male:Female | 42% Male, 58% Female | 50% Male, 50% Female |
| Location Facts | The Texas State University main campus is located in San Marcos, Texas, midway between Austin and San Antonio. The university's Round Rock Campus (RRC) is located in Round Rock, Texas, 20 miles (32 km) north of Austin. | UH is in southeast Houston, with an official address of 4800 Calhoun Road. The University of Houston's campus framework has identified the following five core districts: the Central District, the Arts District, the Professional District, the Residential District, and the Athletics District. |
| Library | The Alkek library was named in 1991 for an alumnus, Albert B. Alkek, who became an oilman, rancher, and philanthropist. University Libraries provide key services and resources that fuel the success of research and innovation at Texas State University. University Libraries comprise three facilities and two prestigious collections that are continually evolving to meet the needs of the growing university and an ever-changing, technology-driven world. | The University of Houston libraries include: M.D. Anderson Library (the main library), Hospitality Industry Archives These libraries constitute a premier research facility with large collections in both print and electronic formats. These collections consist of over 3.2 million volumes, 170,000 journals, as well as access to manuscripts, maps, electronic datasets and tens of thousands of digitized images of unique items. |
| Campus Life | Approximately 20% of Texas State students live in on-campus or in university-owned housing including about 95% of freshman students. Texas State University has more than 300 student organizations registered with its Student Involvement department. These organizations include Greek organizations, academic groups, honors societies, service groups, sports clubs, and common interest groups. Texas State has more than 30 fraternities and sororities, including 13 fraternities from the North American Interfraternity Conference, 9 fraternities and sororities from the historically African-American National Pan-Hellenic Council, 8 sororities from the National Panhellenic Conference, and 9 multicultural fraternities and sororities from the National Multicultural Greek Council. The school's student government is an organization of both undergraduate and graduate students who represent student's interests with the university administration. Student government has dealt with issues including concealed carry on campus and the university's anti-tobacco policy. Student Government also administers a scholarship fund that any Texas State student can apply to earn. Texas State currently competes at the NCAA Division I level and are members of the Sun Belt Conference. Texas State teams and athletes from multiple sports have won national and regional championships as well as medalists in the Olympic Games. | The University of Houston is notable for its diverse student body, and U.S. News & World Report ranks the university as the second-most ethnically diverse research university in the United States. UH has several on campus dormitories: Moody Towers, The Quad, Cougar Village I & II, Cougar Place, University Lofts, Bayou Oaks, Cullen Oaks, and Cambridge Oaks. The university has an intercollegiate sports program that competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The NCAA's Division I sports at the University of Houston include baseball, basketball, cross country, American football, golf, and track and field for men; basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, and track and field for women. The campus life offers the vibe of a small community set amongst the urban offerings of Houston. The on-campus offerings include restaurants, art exhibits, activity centers, live performances and athletic events which make our university much more than a place to learn — it's a place to thrive. |
| Hostel | #Off campus (with family) - $6290 #Off campus (not with family) - $8420 #On campus - $9490 | #Off campus (not with family) - $11067 #Off campus (with family) - $5508 #On campus - $9984 |
| Famous Alumni | Paul Goldschmidt, 6-time MLB All-Star Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th President of the United States Robert L. Rutherford, General, United States Air Force John Sharp, Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System Ricky Wayne Sanders, 2× Super Bowl champion | Fred Couples, professional golfer Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr., former NASA astronaut Bonnie J. Dunbar, former NASA astronaut Lizzo, Grammy Award-winning singer Jim Parsons, Emmy Award-winning actor |
| City Life | With a diverse, vibrant community of nearly 100,000 residents, San Marcos is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing cities in San Diego County. In addition to the top-ranked San Marcos Unified School District, residents can rely on an efficient public transportation system and access to quality medical care. Award-winning master-planned communities, such as San Elijo HIlls—which features a plethora of shops, restaurants, and more than 18 miles of hiking trails—provide residents with conveniently located amenities. Additionally, San Marcos enjoys a mild year-round climate, perfect for enjoying the city’s vast parks and trails program, as well as nearby lakes and beaches. | A good place to live, Houston is the most populated city in Texas and is the fourth most populated city in the entire United States right behind Chicago. Prized for its diversity, Houston is considered one of the best places to live in Texas due to its quality of life and welcoming atmosphere. Best known for its space exploration, energy industry, and affordable cost of living, it is no wonder why Houston has become a top destination for relocation. Plus, receiving high safety ratings, Houston is attracting many families, young couples, and retirees to the area. With a cost of living that is lower than other large cities, Houston is noticeably less expensive than living in San Francisco or living in New York City. The cost of living in Houston is also 5% less than living in Dallas and 19% less than living in Austin. To live comfortably in Houston, a recommended annual salary of almost $35,000 is advised to afford at least a one-bedroom apartment in the city. The median income in Houston is $52,338. Houston's booming job market is one of the many reasons the population is skyrocketing. Not only is real estate affordable but thousands of jobs are attracting young professionals to the area. The most popular industries in Houston are oil and gas, medical research, aerospace, technology, and healthcare. Some of the largest employers and businesses in the area include Walmart, Memorial Hermann Health Services, Shell Oil Company, United Airlines, Kroger, and Houston Methodist. |
| Weather |
Texas State University vs University of Houston
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Texas State University and University of Houston are both well-known public research universities in Texas. University of Houston tends to fare better in graduation performance and salary outcomes of alumni. Texas State has been enhanced with its outcomes but falls behind UH in median earnings of alumni and graduation rate. Global ranking figures specific to 2025/2026 indicate UH better in research output, social mobility, and alumni performance measures. Texas State excels regionally in education, criminal justice, and business programs, while UH's urban location and collaborations contribute to its greater strengths in engineering, health sciences, business, and technology.
General Information
University of Houston, with approximately the same number of total undergraduate students as Texas State, is situated in a major metropolitan area and thus offers considerable resources for research, internships, and industry interaction. Texas State, with ~36,200 undergraduates, focuses on serving in-state students, access, and transfer students. Both universities have a number of undergraduate and graduate programs; UH has more extensive graduate and professional programs due to its higher research profile, while Texas State has numerous undergraduate programs, with especially high concentrations in liberal arts, education, health, and sciences.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
The admissions at both universities are moderately competitive. Texas State's acceptance rate is approximately 88%, while University of Houston's is approximately 66%. The mean SAT / ACT data indicate that Texas State's mean SAT ? 1085 and ACT ? 22. University of Houston's SAT/ACT averages are higher in those who have submitted (SAT ~ 1249, ACT ~ 26). Both institutions look at GPA, courses, and other academic markers; submission of standardized tests is taken into consideration in most cases (not required in all cases), but UH is more likely to have a more significant academic record in the admitted cohort.
Research Impact & Facilities
University of Houston has more robust research infrastructure, particularly because it is located in Houston with associated health, energy, engineering, and medical industry. Texas State has increasing research in biology, health sciences, education, and social sciences, and focuses on undergraduate research and student success. UH's facilities, labs, and citation output are greater; Texas State's facilities accommodate a large number of students and are expanding, mainly in STEM and applied research.
Cost & Financial Aid
In-state tuition at Texas State is the same as about US$12,206 annually; out-of-state is more. University of Houston has in-state tuition at about US$11,882 and out-of-state more. Scholarships, grant aid, and financial aid differ; both institutions offer need- and merit-based aid. Net price after grants is below sticker price for most students at both schools. In-state differences are lesser, but out-of-state students have much higher fees.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
University of Houston graduates tend to have higher median earnings (~US$48,424) compared to Texas State’s (~US$42,210) according to recent data. UH’s six-year graduation rate of ~ 63-65% and higher retention rates reflect better overall outcomes compared to Texas State’s ~ 56%. Texas State performs better in regional placement, particularly for education, public affairs, criminal justice, and biology; UH graduates gain more from urban employment markets, particularly in energy, technology, engineering, and business industries. Internships, industry connections, and alumni network are relatively stronger in UH because of its urban setting and research affiliations.
