Houston Christian University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Houston, Texas. It enrolls 2,886 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
61/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes28
Value51
Affordability69
Selectivity38
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 84.4%, Houston Christian University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
84.4%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
990 – 1190
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
17 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Houston Christian University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
14.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Houston Christian University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,629 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,629
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
56%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
59%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$39,430
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,928
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,928
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,774
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,042
Total Cost of Attendance
$50,082
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$17,933
$30,001 – $48,000
$18,998
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,803
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,079
Over $110,000
$28,640
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,25010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$22,642Medianpercentile
$24,97675%percentile
$31,25090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $11,000
↓ $11,642
No Pell $11,000
↓ $11,642
Dependent students $12,000
↓ $10,642
Independent students $9,500
↓ $13,142
Female students $11,717
↓ $10,925
Male students $10,125
↓ $12,517
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($22,642), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
45% of full-time students who enrolled at Houston Christian University graduate within six years, and 69% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
45%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
69%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Houston Christian University earn a median of $55,933 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$55,933
Earning > $25K
77%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$48,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$62,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$49,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$55,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$53,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,600, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
8.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 79% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Houston Christian University is home to 2,886 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,886
Part-Time
23%
First-Generation
36%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 38.7%1,118
Black 24.1%696
White 15.8%456
Asian 5.5%158
International 4.0%115
Other 3.1%89
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Houston Christian University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityHouston, Texas
Housing
Partly residential1,032 beds available
Adult Learners
15%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Houston Christian University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
65 distinct programs across
22 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Houston Christian University is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$237M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$71,266
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
124 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
30
24%
$76,911
Associate Professors
33
27%
$73,157
Assistant Professors
53
43%
$69,358
Instructors
1
1%
$48,546
No Rank
7
6%
$55,853
Pros & Cons of Houston Christian University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Houston Christian University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Houston Christian University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Houston Christian University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Houston Christian University.
Is Houston Christian University hard to get into?
Houston Christian University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 84.4%.
What is the acceptance rate at Houston Christian University?
Houston Christian University has an acceptance rate of 84.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Houston Christian University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Houston Christian University scored between 990 and 1190 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Houston Christian University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Houston Christian University scored between 17 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Houston Christian University cost?
The average net price after aid at Houston Christian University is $20,629 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Houston Christian University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $55,933 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,629 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Houston Christian University known for?
Houston Christian University is best known for its programs in Mental Health Services, Nursing, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Houston Christian University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Houston Christian University are $55,933, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Houston Christian University accredited?
Yes. Houston Christian University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Houston Christian University?
Houston Christian University enrolls 2,886 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Houston Christian University?
Houston Christian University graduates 45% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Houston Christian University a public or private college?
Houston Christian University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Houston Christian University located?
Houston Christian University is located in Houston, Texas.
What programs does Houston Christian University offer?
Houston Christian University offers 65 distinct programs. The most popular include Mental Health Services, Nursing, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Houston Christian University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Houston Christian University is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Other colleges in Texas share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
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Rankings That Feature Houston Christian University
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