Universities in Houston, USA
- Rankings & Reviews -

For business studies see our separate ranking of business schools in Houston, USA

Latest ranking updates related to universities in Houston
  • 06 Mar, 2024: New edition of Scimago Institutions Rankings. 7 universities in Houston ranked.
  • 25 Jan, 2024: THE World’s Most International Universities updated with Rice University in position 71.
  • 19 Dec, 2023: URAP World Ranking - University Ranking by Academic Performance updated with University of Houston ranked highest among 2 listed universities in Houston.
  • 05 Dec, 2023: British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK published most recent results of QS World University Rankings: Sustainability. Includes 3 universities from Houston.

Houston, Texas, is a city usually known for its friendly locals, 10 months of humid summer, and its annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

What many people may not know however, is that Houston also offers numerous employment opportunities, excellent and varied dining options, lower living costs, and a wide selection of universities, including numerous research institutions.


Rankings of universities in Houston, USA 2024

  • #41 
  • #119 
THE World University Rankings
[Published 27 September, 2023]
  • #18 
  • #18 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #34 
  • #145 
QS World University Rankings
[Published 27 June, 2023]
Show 28 more rankings of Rice University and subject specific rankings for 9 subjects

  • #115 
  • #501 
THE World University Rankings
[Published 27 September, 2023]
  • #321 
  • #323 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #102 
  • #641 
QS World University Rankings
[Published 27 June, 2023]
Show 27 more rankings of University of Houston and subject specific rankings for 11 subjects

Student satisfaction: 4.3 / 5.0 (based on 90 student ratings)
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  • #110 
  • #439 
Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2024]
  • #80 
  • #269 
US News: Best Global Universities
[Published 24 October, 2022]
  • #419 
  • #430 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
Show 8 more rankings of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and subject specific rankings for 5 subjects


Student satisfaction: 3.8 / 5.0 (based on 162 student ratings)
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  • #57 
  • #186 
Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2024]
  • #50 
  • #136 
US News: Best Global Universities
[Published 24 October, 2022]
  • #66 
  • #271 
CWTS Leiden Ranking
[Published 22 June, 2022]
Show 7 more rankings of Baylor College of Medicine and subject specific rankings for 5 subjects

  • #472 
  • #3778 
Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2024]
  • #408 
  • #420 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #307 
  • #304 
US News Best National Universities
[Published 17 September, 2023]
Show 4 more rankings of University of Houston-Clear Lake and subject specific rankings for 5 subjects

  • #296 
  • #1895 
Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2024]
  • #1055 
  • #1099 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #418 
  • #395 
US News Best National Universities
[Published 17 September, 2023]
Show 3 more rankings of Texas Southern University and subject specific rankings for 4 subjects

Student satisfaction: 4.8 / 5.0 (based on 6 student ratings)
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  • #36 
  • #80 
ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities - ShanghaiRanking
[Published 15 August, 2023]
  • #52 
  • #111 
CWUR Center for World University Rankings
[Published 25 April, 2022]
  • #31 
  • #78 
NTU Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers
[Published 11 July, 2023]
Show 2 more rankings of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and subject specific rankings for 4 subjects

#8
USA

Houston Baptist University

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  • #511 
  • #530 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #543 
  • #565 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021]

#9
USA

College of Biblical Studies

Student satisfaction: 5.0 / 5.0 (based on 70 student ratings)
  • #1353 
  • #1420 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #1422 
  • #1502 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021]

#10
USA

South Texas College of Law

Student satisfaction: 4.7 / 5.0 (based on 38 student ratings)
  • #1300 
  • #8097 
Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities
[Published 31 July, 2023]

Student satisfaction: 4.7 / 5.0 (based on 201 student ratings)
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  • #322 
  • #323 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #564 
  • #587 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #221 
  • #216 
US News Best National Universities
[Published 17 September, 2023]
Show 5 more rankings of University of St. Thomas

  • #525 
  • #501 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #488 
  • #3983 
Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2024]
  • #576 
  • #599 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
Show 3 more rankings of University of Houston - Downtown and subject specific rankings for 2 subjects

#13
USA

North American University


Highest subject rankings of universities in Houston

Entrepreneurship The Princeton Review: Top 50 Undergraduate Schools for Entrepreneurship
#1 
University of Houston
Computer Science Payscale College Salary Report - Best Schools by Majors
#15 
Rice University
Engineering Payscale College Salary Report - Best Schools by Majors
#17 
Rice University
Medicine QS World University Rankings By Subject
#45 
Baylor College of Medicine
Chemistry GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
#51 
Rice University
Law US News: Best Grad Schools (US)
#58 
University of Houston
Journalism URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Field
#82 
University of Houston
Education US News: Best Grad Schools (US)
#89 
University of Houston
Economics GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
#101 
Rice University
Mathematics GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
#101 
Rice University

Student Opinions About Studying in Houston

“Something that really impressed me about Houston is that you can find cuisine from literally anywhere in the world here, whether it be Jamaican, African, Mexican, everything is here and it really gives the city some international character.”

“The nightlife scene here is vibrant, and you can be sure that your favorite artists and bands are always going to include Houston in their tour schedule, so there are opportunities for all kinds of exciting events throughout the year.”

“Houston is a huge city, so every time you need to do something it’s going to take half an hour to get there in most cases, thanks to the city’s chronic traffic problem.”

Houston Key Facts for International Students

PROS

  • Despite there being a lot of people living in Houston, the city’s job market is characterized by its balance and variety.

  • There’s a large population of international students in Houston, which helps other international students to settle in and feel like they are blending in more.

  • Houston’s cost of living is below the national average, calculated in groceries, rent, and energy bills. The only exception is public transportation, but the cost is not significantly above the national average. In any case, if you are a student you can apply online for a Student METRO Q Fare Card.

CONS

  • The most recurring negative expressed about Houston is its heavy traffic. Those moving to the city are recommended to search for apartments in a neighborhood that leaves them well connected with their daily routine.

  • Apart from some exceptions like Hermann Park, there is not a lot of natural beauty to enjoy in Houston, and walking as a means of getting around is very impractical.

  • Houston is not known for having a lot to offer in the way of Historical landmarks and districts, and public art. Many express that Houston is distributed in a way that encourages people to work and go home.


12 out of 13 Universities in Houston Ranked in at least one ranking

37 Different Rankings list Universities in Houston (23 institution and 14 subject rankings)

31 Global Rankings rank Universities in Houston Among TOP 200

Population: 2305000

Elevation: 12 m. above sea level

Time: GMT -6

District/province: Texas, Harris County

Living costs for students in Houston:

* 100 = prices in London

  • Living costs without accommodation 80* (20% cheaper than London)
  • All costs including accommodation 71* (29% cheaper than London)
  • Meals (grocery & lower cost restaurants) 73* (27% cheaper than London)
  • Average Big Mac price 5.15 US$
  • Plug Type A
    • Residential voltage: 120 V
    • Frequency: 60 Hz
  • Plug Type B
    • Residential voltage: 120 V
    • Frequency: 60 Hz

Map with location of universities in Houston

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FAQ

Rice University ranks #1 in Houston in our meta ranking composed of 112 university rankings.

Among all universities in Houston Rice University is listed in the largest number of rankings. See all 44 rankings where Rice University is listed.

University of Houston is ranked best in Houston for Business (Entrepreneurship). See all rankings for the University of Houston.

Rice University is ranked best in Houston for Computer Science (Computer Science). See all rankings for the Rice University.

Rice University is ranked best in Houston for Engineering (Engineering). See all rankings for the Rice University.

Baylor College of Medicine is ranked best in Houston for Medicine & Health (Medicine). See all rankings for the Baylor College of Medicine.

Rice University is ranked best in Houston for Natural Sciences (Chemistry). See all rankings for the Rice University.

University of Houston is ranked best in Houston for Law (Law). See all rankings for the University of Houston.

University of Houston is ranked best in Houston for Journalism & Media Studies (Journalism). See all rankings for the University of Houston.

University of Houston is ranked best in Houston for Education (Education). See all rankings for the University of Houston.

Rice University is ranked best in Houston for Social Studies & Humanities (Economics). See all rankings for the Rice University.

Rice University is ranked best in Houston for Mathematics (Mathematics). See all rankings for the Rice University.

Rice University is ranked best in Houston for Languages & Literature (Linguistics). See all rankings for the Rice University.

Rice University is ranked best in Houston for Agriculture (Agriculture). See all rankings for the Rice University.

Ranking publishers

4icu

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British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK

Criteria used in ranking -QS World University Rankings:

Academic Reputation 40% Employer Reputation 10% Faculty/Student Ratio 20% Citations per faculty 20% International Faculty Ratio 5% International Student Ratio 5%

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Criteria used in ranking -QS Employability Rankings:

Employer reputation 30% Alumni outcomes 25% Partnerships with Employers per Faculty 25% Employer/Student Connections 10% Graduate employment rate 10%

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CWUR Center for World University Rankings

Criteria used in ranking -CWUR Center for World University Rankings:

Research Performance: 40%

  • Research Output: 10%
  • High-Quality Publications: 10%
  • Influence: 10%
  • Citations: 10%

Quality of Education: 25%

Alumni Employment: 25%

Quality of Faculty: 10%

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Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands

Criteria used in ranking -CWTS Leiden Ranking:

Scientific Impact Number of Publications Collaboration Open Access Gender Diversity

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Forbes

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Kiplinger

Criteria used in ranking -Kiplinger's Best College Values:

Quality Criteria 55% Cost Criteria 45%

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MONEY

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Criteria used in ranking -MONEY Best Colleges in America, ranked by value:

Quality of education 33.33% Affordability 33.33% Outcomes 33.33%

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NTU ranking

Criteria used in ranking -NTU Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers:

Research Productivity: 25%

  • # Articles last 11 years: 10%
  • # Articles current year: 15%

Research Impact: 35%

  • # Citations last 11 years: 15%
  • # Citations last 2 years: 10%
  • Average # citations last 11 years: 10%

Research Excellence: 40%

  • H-index last 2 years: 10%
  • # Highly cited papers last 11 years: 15%
  • # Articles current year in high-impact journals: 15%

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Nature Index

Criteria used in ranking -Nature Index - Academic:

Article count (AC) Fractional count (FC) Weighted fractional count (WFC)

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Payscale

Criteria used in ranking -Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only):

Ranking is based on ROI

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RUR Ranking Agency (Moscow, Russia)

Criteria used in ranking -RUR World University Rankings:

Teaching: 40%

  • Ratio Faculty/Student: 8%
  • Ratio Faculty/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • Ratio Faculty/Doctoral Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • Ratio Doctoral Degrees Awarded/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • World Teaching Reputation: 8%

Research: 40%

  • Citations per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
  • Doctoral Degrees per Accepted PhD: 8%
  • Normalized Citation Impact: 8%
  • Papers per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
  • World Research Reputation: 8%

International Diversity: 10%

  • International Faculty: 2%
  • International Students: 2%
  • International Co-Authored Papers: 2%
  • Reputation Outside Geographical Region: 2%
  • International Level: 2%

Financial Sustainability: 10%

  • Institutional Income per Faculty: 2%
  • Institutional Income per Student: 2%
  • Papers per Research Income: 2%
  • Research Income per Academic/Research Staff: 2%
  • Research Income per Institutional Income: 2%

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Criteria used in ranking -RUR Academic Rankings:

Normalized citation impact (Citations of research publications from all university authors compared with world averages) 20% Citation per papers 20% Papers per academic and research staff 20% International research reputation 20% Share of research publications written in international co-authorship 20%

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Criteria used in ranking -RUR Reputation Ranking:

Teaching Reputation 50% Research Reputation 50%

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Scimago Institutions

Criteria used in ranking -Scimago Institutions Rankings:

Research 50% Innovation 30%
Societal 20%

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ShanghaiRanking Consultancy

Criteria used in ranking -ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities - ShanghaiRanking:

Quality of Education 10%

  • Alumni winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 10%

Quality of Faculty 40%

  • Staff winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 20%
  • Highly Cited Researchers 20%

Research Output 40%

  • Papers published in Nature and Science 20%
  • Papers indexed in Science Citation Index-Expanded & Social Science Citation Index 20%

Per Capita Performance 10%

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StuDocu

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THE Times Higher Education, UK

Criteria used in ranking -THE World University Rankings:

30% Teaching (the Learning Environment)

  • Reputation survey: 15%
  • Staff-to-student ratio: 4.5%
  • Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio: 2.25%
  • Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio: 6%
  • Institutional income: 2.25%

30% Research (Volume, Income and Reputation)

  • Reputation survey: 18%
  • Research income: 6%
  • Research productivity: 6%

30% Citations (Research Influence)

7.5% International Outlook (Staff, Students and Research)

  • Proportion of international students: 2.5%
  • Proportion of international staff: 2.5%
  • International collaboration: 2.5%

2.5% Industry Income (Knowledge Transfer)"

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Criteria used in ranking -THE Global Employability University Ranking:

Employability (survey) 100%

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Criteria used in ranking -THE World Reputation Rankings:

Research Reputation 66,6% Teaching Reputation 33,3%

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Criteria used in ranking -THE World’s Most International Universities:

Proportion of international students 25% Proportion of international staff 25% Proportion of journal publications with one or more international co-authors 25% University’s international reputation 25%

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The Princeton Review

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Thomson Reuters

Criteria used in ranking -Reuters Most Innovative Universities:

Patent Volume 33% Patent Citations 34% Industry Article Citation Impact 11% Percent of Industry Collaborative Articles 11% Total Web of Science Core Collection Papers 11%

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Urap

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Us News

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Wallstreet Journal USA & THE Times Higher Education, UK

Criteria used in ranking -Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings:

Outcomes 40% (employability) Resources 30% Engagement 20% (teaching) Environment 10% (diversity)

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Washington Monthly

Criteria used in ranking -Washington Monthly - National Universities:

Social Mobility 33.33%
Research 33.33%
Community and National Service 33.33%

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Webometrics

Criteria used in ranking -Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities:

Visibility 50% Excellence 35% Transparency 10% Presence 5%

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