Freshman Admissions Process (U.S. Only)
At the University of Houston, you'll find degree programs that will pave the way to the future you envision — whether you want to build the physical foundations of the future as an engineer or architect, shape young minds as an educator or study how far humanity has already come as an anthropologist. These are just a few of the areas of study available, taught by world-renowned faculty members.
You are a freshman if you:
- are a student without college credit or
- earned college credit prior to high school graduation (dual credit/early college high school)* or
- earned less than 15 transferable hours of college credit after earning a GED or high school diploma* and
- are a U.S. citizen, have applied for permanent residency or qualify for Texas residency based on Senate Bill 1528
*Only credit earned from an institution accredited by one of the six regional accrediting associations will be accepted.
You are an international freshman if you:
- are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States and
- are not graduating from a Texas high school after three years in residence in Texas (please review Senate Bill 1528)
We're Test Optional
Applicants have the option to apply for admission with or without a test score for the following academic terms: spring 2025, summer 2025 and fall 2025. Applicants are not disadvantaged by applying without a test score.
Complete the University of Houston application for admission using The Common Application.
On your application, you will select whether you want your application to be reviewed with a test score or without a test score. Be sure to complete the short admissions essay and tell us about your extracurricular activities.
Applying With a Test Score (ACT/SAT)
If you are applying for admissions with a test score, have your ACT or SAT score(s) sent directly from the testing agency to us.
University of Houston ACT Code: 4236
University of Houston SAT Code: 6870
If applying for admission with test scores, we will use the highest total or composite score submitted. To comply with Texas Success Initiative standards, scores may not be more than five years old at the time of submission.
Applying Without a Test Score
All applicants applying without a test score must submit a short admissions essay and extracurricular activities — both can be submitted through the Common App. Make sure to complete these sections before you finish and submit your application. You will not be able to go back and add your admissions essay or extracurricular activities once you’ve submitted your application.
If you don't meet the assured admissions requirements, we may require additional documentation (like updated grades), which we'll request from you to help us make our decision.
Admission Requirements
Texas Education Code (TEC) 51.803-51.809 requires all students meet college readiness standards to be eligible for admission at a Texas Four-Year Public Institution. Read about the Texas Uniform Admission Policy.
On your application, you will select whether you want your application to be reviewed with a test score or without a test score. The admission criteria for each choice is below.
With Test Score
Class Rank | SAT or | ACT | Admission Type |
---|---|---|---|
Top 10% | No Minimum | No Minimum | Assured Admission |
11 - 25% | 1080 | 21 | Assured Admission |
26 - 50% | 1170 | 24 | Assured Admission |
51% and Lower, No Rank | — | — | Individual Review* |
Without Test Score
Class Rank | Calculated Unweighted GPA** | Admission Type |
---|---|---|
Top 10% | No Minimum | Assured Admission |
11 - 25% | 3.40 or higher | Assured Admission |
lower than 3.40 | Individual Review* | |
26 - 50% | 3.45 or higher | Assured Admission |
lower than 3.45 | Individual Review* | |
51% and Lower, No Rank | — | Individual Review* |
*If you don't meet the assured admissions requirements, we will use your CommonApp or ApplyTexas essay and your resume in our review process. All students regardless of how they apply need to submit an essay and resume.
**This unweighted GPA will be calculated by the University of Houston (out of a 4.0 scale) using English, math, science and social studies grades on your transcript. Extracurricular classes will not be included.
Admission requirements are different for international students. For more information, visit uh.edu/international.
GED or home schooled applicants will be considered for admission by individual review.
Majors With Additional Requirements
Some majors have additional requirements on top of the ones listed above. Find out more information about majors with additional requirements for freshmen.
State of Texas Uniform Admissions Policy
No Class Rank
We recognize some applicants attend non-traditional or non-ranking schools who do not provide a class rank. Applicants without a class rank will still be considered for admissions by individual review.
If you attend a school that does not provide you with a rank on your transcript, a statement of rank provided by a school administrator is sufficient. The statement of rank should include a student's name, UHID and ranking displayed in a #/# format (e.g. 12/1927). Rank statements that list quartiles (eg. Top 20%, Top 30%, etc.) will not be used in our evaluation for admission. Rank statements should be submitted to admissions@uh.edu.
How to Send Transcripts
Self-report your transcript information. Visit your task list in your my. uh.edu self-service portal to self-report your transcript information. You'll only report your math, science, English and social studies classes.View our self-reporting guide or watch our video tutorial for step-by-step instructions.
If you cannot self-report your transcript, ask your school administrator to send your official transcript data electronically through an EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) system, e.g. TREx (for Texas institutions)
We do not accept hard copy transcripts. Applicants are required to self report academic information or provide using an EDI. For more information about transcript submission guidelines, please visit Submitting Official High School and College Transcripts Guidelines.
Application Fee
Pay the nonrefundable $75 application fee ($90 for international students) with a credit card or debit card. Payment can be made in your myUH self-service portal or before submitting the admissions application.
Freshman may qualify for an application fee waiver. Simply complete the National Association for College Admissions Counseling Fee Waiver Form and submit a PDF copy through your myUH account using the following steps:
- Log in to your myUH account
- Select the "Student Center" tile
- Locate your To-Do List on the top right side of the page
- Select "Details/Upload Document"
- Select the "Upload/View Document" link for the "UGRD Fee Waiver Form"
- Select the "Upload File" button and select your completed Fee Waiver Form in PDF format and navigate through the prompts
Deadlines
Term | Application Type | Open Date | Application Due | Supporting Information* Due |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spring 2025 | U.S. Freshman | 8/1/2024 | 12/2/2024 | 12/9/2024 |
International Freshman | 8/1/2024 | 11/4/2024 | 11/11/2024 | |
Summer 2025 | U.S. Freshman | 8/1/2024 | 5/5/2025 | 5/12/2025 |
International Freshman | 8/1/2024 | 4/1/2025 | 4/8/2025 | |
Fall 2025 | U.S. Freshman | 8/1/2024 | 6/2/2025 | 6/9/2025 |
International Freshman | 8/1/2024 | 5/5/2025 | 5/12/2025 |
Fall 2025 Scholarship Priority Deadlines
- Deadline to submit the admissions application: Nov. 1, 2024
- Deadline to submit the supporting information*: Nov. 8, 2024
*Supporting information includes application fee, self-reporting transcript information and test scores (if applicable). If applying without test scores, supporting information also includes your essay and resume. You can request to change to admissions without a test score by submitting this form.
How to Change Your Major
We understand students may change their minds about what to study in college. The option to change your academic major is only available after receiving admission to UH and must be completed no later than two weeks before your registered New Student Orientation date.
- Log in to your myUH account
- Select the "Tasks" tile
- Locate your To-Do List and select "UH Choice of Major"
- Complete the instructions and click “Submit”
Dual Credit & Early College High School
All students who are currently enrolled in high school at the time of their admissions application to UH must apply as a freshman (regardless of the number of college credit hours they have earned in high school). Applying as a freshman allows all dual credit and early college high school students to take advantage of the financial, academic and housing opportunities that are specifically set aside for freshman students transitioning from high school to college.
Earning an Associate’s Degree in high school does not guarantee admission to UH and does not classify an applicant as a transfer student. However, earning an Associate’s Degree will be taken into consideration during admission review.
Speak with an Admissions Representative
Admissions representatives are experts when it comes to applying to the University of Houston. If you'd like to talk to an admissions representative for admissions support, you can schedule an in-person or virtual admissions advising appointment, or contact us by phone at 713-743-1010, option 4 or by email at admissions@uh.edu. Admissions representatives do not provide support with course selection or registration.