The University of Houston is a large public research university in the centre of Houston, Texas. It is best known for business, engineering, hospitality, law and the sciences, with the energy industry, the Texas Medical Center and NASA all within the city. Choose it for an affordable public degree in one of the biggest job markets in the US.
Houston, United States
Official website: uh.edu
#651
R1 — very high research activity
Top 5 hospitality programme in the US
Over 47,000 students on a city-centre campus
$20,000 – $26,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$14,000 – $18,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on uh.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Petroleum Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Business Analytics (Bauer)
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Electrical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA (Bauer College of Business)
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Houston — the US energy capital, home to the Texas Medical Center and NASA's Johnson Space Center.
Bauer College of Business — AACSB-accredited, with a top-ranked entrepreneurship programme.
Hilton College — a top-5 US hospitality school with a working hotel on campus.
Cullen College of Engineering — strong in petroleum, chemical and electrical engineering.
Graduates join ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, JPMorgan Chase, Deloitte and the Texas Medical Center's hospitals.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Petroleum and chemical engineering graduates report median starting salaries around USD 75,000-85,000.
Hospitality alumni move into management at Hilton, Marriott and Houston's hotels and restaurants.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 667-acre campus sits just south-east of downtown Houston, with a light-rail line to the centre, student housing on campus and the engineering and business colleges around a central green.
Houston is the fourth-largest US city and one of the most affordable big cities for rent, with a huge energy, medical and aerospace job market. Summers are hot and humid, and a car helps.
Form I-20 issued by the University of Houston
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate admission is rolling, with a 15 November 2026 priority date for fall 2027 that gives the best chance at scholarships; international applicants should apply by May to leave time for the visa. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most engineering and business master's closing between January and May.
Undergraduates can start in fall (August), spring (January) or summer (June). Most master's programmes, including computer science, petroleum engineering, business analytics and the Bauer MBA, admit for both fall and spring. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. International Student and Scholar Services issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, petroleum engineering, business analytics, electrical engineering and the Bauer MBA attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 79 or IELTS 6.5, and the GRE or GMAT for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is based mainly on grades.
Yes, and one is unusually valuable: an international student who wins a competitive University of Houston scholarship of at least USD 1,000 becomes eligible for in-state tuition, cutting fees by more than half. Merit awards are considered when you apply by the priority date, and graduate students can seek assistantships.
