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University of Houston-Clear Lake
Houston, TX 6,078 Undergrads 64.0% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$24,931
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,852
After Aid
Median Earnings
$59,183
5yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$11,852
Peer Midpoint: $19,969
Earnings (5yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$59,183Peer Midpoint: $61,632
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$61,521Peer Midpoint: $58,891
Graduation Rate64.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average starting age (2015-17)27.6
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients47.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time52.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.4%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
90.5%
SAT Avg
1,060
SAT Reading
25th: 49053075th: 580
SAT Math
25th: 48052575th: 570
ACT Composite
25th: 202275th: 25
ROI Sensitivity AnalysisAssuming 4 Years to Graduation
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$522k
+$52k
+$36k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$480k
+$10k
-$7k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$433k
-$37k
-$54k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
41
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
Never
-16%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-60%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the median earnings five years after graduating, with four years of 2% raises taken out.⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-11%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-54%
Program ROI Analysis
These figures are medians for past graduates who received federal aid. Your cost and pay will differ. Run your own numbers in the Guided ROI Interview →
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$18,386
Earnings (4yr)
$70,134
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$90k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Behavioral Sciences
BachCIP: 3017
Median Debt
$16,832
Earnings (4yr)
$51,151
Natl Median: $48,673
Lifetime Value Added
-$64k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,555
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$46k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,046
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$16,956
Earnings (4yr)
$71,973
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$16,732
Earnings (4yr)
$49,841
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$75,617
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$23,079
Earnings (4yr)
$79,710
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$163k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,073
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$143k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,087
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,572
Natl Median: $47,488
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$14,393
Earnings (4yr)
$57,052
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$19,493
Earnings (4yr)
$74,949
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$12,404
Earnings (4yr)
$38,330
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$173k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$16,762
Earnings (4yr)
$60,419
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$13k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$57,675
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,568
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Legal Support Services
BachCIP: 2203
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$52,230
Natl Median: $53,266
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,352
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$14,793
Earnings (4yr)
$55,280
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$14,068
Earnings (4yr)
$60,050
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,065
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$15k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,258
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,959
Earnings (4yr)
$48,885
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Public Administration
BachCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$103,991
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$348k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,513
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$78k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,083
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$89,953
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$131k
Behavioral Sciences
MastCIP: 3017
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,111
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,682
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$28,666
Earnings (4yr)
$100,281
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$72,708
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Communications Technologies/Technicians
MastCIP: 1001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$56,415
Natl Median: $71,506
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
MastCIP: 1101
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Engineering
MastCIP: 1409
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminology
MastCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$51,106
Natl Median: $67,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$200k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,747
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$82k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$31,174
Earnings (4yr)
$72,586
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,270
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$208k
Engineering-Related Fields
MastCIP: 1515
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$103,078
Natl Median: $125,651
Lifetime Value Added
+$283k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$107,792
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$288k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$80,794
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,058
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$220k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$29,735
Earnings (4yr)
$80,692
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Information Science/Studies
MastCIP: 1104
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies
MastCIP: 3023
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$58,221
Natl Median: $63,289
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Library Science and Administration
MastCIP: 2501
Median Debt
$25,171
Earnings (4yr)
$65,861
Natl Median: $56,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$40,805
Earnings (4yr)
$57,552
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
MastCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$94,092
Natl Median: $74,607
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
MastCIP: 2609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$45,000
Earnings (4yr)
$70,718
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$63,697
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$112k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,849
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Systems Engineering
MastCIP: 1427
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $144,565
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,591
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Doctoral Degrees
Curriculum and Instruction
DocCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,031
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$55,000
Earnings (4yr)
$101,723
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.
Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.