Private Nonprofit · Houston, Texas

Houston Christian University

Houston Christian University is a private nonprofit institution in Houston, Texas. as a private nonprofit, published Scorecard outcomes cover federal-aid recipients at this campus — endowment and sticker price sit outside those cohort fields.

$55,933
10-yr median earnings
84.4%
Acceptance rate
$20,629
Avg net price / yr
49.5%
150%-time completion

The verdict

Houston Christian University pairs top-quartile former-student earnings with open admission.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

Top 20%
former-student earnings, US
84.4%
acceptance rate
49.5%
150%-time completion
+25%
earnings, 6→10 yrs
City: Large Carnegie: Master's (L)
View my saved schools

Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.

How to read this Houston Christian University profile

Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.

Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.

Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.

College Value Score

C-
College Value Score
50/100
Houston Christian University

A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.

Earnings B+
$55,933
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price F
$20,629
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate F
49.5%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$22,642
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment B+
75.4%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention F
69.3%
First-year students returning for year two
Houston Christian University vs. the national benchmark
EarningsNet PriceCompletionDebtRepaymentRetention

Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.

10-yr median earnings

$55,933

Federal aid recipients only

Avg net price

$20,629

After grants and scholarships

150%-time completion

49.5%

Full-time, first-time cohort

150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 49.5%

Four-year-institution cohort

College ROI Quadrant - Houston Christian University vs peers

Houston Christian University positioned by earnings vs cost Two-by-two quadrant chart: x-axis median earnings 10 years after enrollment, y-axis average net price after financial aid. Each dot is a college, colored by completion within 150% of normal time (garnet ≥65%, amber 45-64%, red <45%). Net price increases upward, earnings increase rightward, so: bottom-right = best value (low cost, high earnings); top-right = premium (high cost, high earnings); bottom-left = community college tier (low cost, modest earnings); top-left = cost challenge (high cost, low earnings). Currently plotting 8 colleges. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard joined to Carnegie Classification. Houston Christian University positioned by e… Carnegie Classification: Master's (L) Master's (… COST CHALLENGE PREMIUM COMMUNITY BEST VALUE $28K $75K Median Earnings 10 Years After Enrollment ($) $16K $30K Avg Net Price ($) Houston Christian University (you are here): $56K earn · $21K net · 49% grad You are here - Houston Christian … University of Mary Hardin-Baylor: $56K earn · $26K net · 51% grad University of Mary… Abilene Christian University: $56K earn · $26K net · 60% grad Abilene Christian … University of St Thomas: $59K earn · $19K net · 69% grad University of St T… Trinity University: $72K earn · $23K net · 83% grad Trinity University Saint Edward's University: $59K earn · $26K net · 63% grad Saint Edward's Uni… Dallas Baptist University: $57K earn · $29K net · 59% grad The College of Health Care Professions-Southwest Houston: $33K earn · $28K net · 64% grad Grad rate (4yr) ≥65% 45-64% <45%
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.

How Houston Christian University ranks nationally

Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.

Houston Christian University: former-student earnings vs. every US college

10-year median earnings, College Scorecard

$55,933 Top 20% higher than 80% of 5,103 US colleges

$0–$20,000: 169 US colleges (3%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 2,245 US colleges (44%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 1,897 US colleges (37%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 606 US colleges (12%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 134 US colleges (3%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 39 US colleges (1%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 11 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 2 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. This college $0 $160,000 every US college, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Metric Houston Christian University National rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $55,933 #1031 of 5103 80th
Average net price $20,629 #3215 of 5020 36th (lower is better)
150%-time completion 49.5% #3024 of 4858 38th
Undergraduate enrollment 2,886 #1139 of 5462 79th

National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.

Quick Facts

2,886
Undergraduate enrollment
84.4%
Acceptance rate
1,084
SAT average
49.5%
150%-time completion
$55,933
10-yr median earnings
69.3%
First-year retention

How Houston Christian University ranks in Texas

State rank among 324 reporting Texas colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.

Metric Houston Christian University State rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $55,933 #53 of 324 84th
Average net price $20,629 #214 of 340 37th (lower is better)
150%-time completion 49.5% #202 of 324 38th
Undergraduate enrollment 2,886 #79 of 366 78th

Highest former-student earnings in Texas

Admissions

Admission Rate 84.4%
SAT Average 1,084
SAT Math (25th-75th) 490 – 590
SAT Reading (25th-75th) 500 – 600
ACT Average 25
ACT (25th-75th) 17 – 24
0%100%84.4%
Share of applicants admitted

Costs & Financial Aid

Net price by family income at Houston Christian University

Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket

net price / yr

What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at Houston Christian University - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Tuition & Net Price

In-State Tuition $39,430
Out-of-State Tuition $39,430
Average Net Price $20,629
55.5%
Pell Grant Rate
58.5%
Federal Loan Rate
$22,642
Median Debt
$240/mo
Monthly Payment

Net price at Houston Christian University swings rather than trends

Across 11 reported years between 2013 and 2023, the average net price here has ranged from $18,745 to $20,938 without settling into a rise or a fall. Comparing only the first and last years would read as -0.4%, but the years in between do not follow that line, so the honest summary is the range rather than a trend. Budget against the upper end, not the average.

Lowest year
$18,745
Highest year
$20,938
Most recent (2023)
$19,710
Average net price, 2013–2023

11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

2013: $19,7842014: $20,0752015: $20,0572016: $20,9382017: $20,8522018: $20,8942019: $19,9622020: $18,9322021: $18,7452022: $19,2532023: $19,710
2013 · $19,7842023 · $19,710

Over the same years, enrollment went +28.3% (2,165 → 2,777 students).

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.

Student Demographics

Race & ethnicity

Student body at a glance

64.6%
Female
36.3%
First Generation

Outcomes

69.3%
Retention Rate
$44,595
Median Earnings (6yr)
71.5%
Earning Over $25K
75.4%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)

Outcomes & debt snapshot

Measure Cohort / horizon Value
Completion within 150% of normal time First-time, full-time 49.5%
First-year retention First-time, full-time freshmen 69.3%
Median earnings 6 years after entry $44,595
Median earnings 10 years after entry $55,933
Share earning over $25,000 Working, not enrolled 71.5%
Loan repayment rate Completers, 3 years after leaving 75.4%
Median federal student debt At completion $22,642
Estimated monthly payment Standard 10-year plan $240/mo

Programs & Earnings

Field-of-study summary by credential

Credential Programs Award count Avg earnings Top earnings Avg debt
Master's 12 308 $74,683 $98,858 $41,974
Bachelor's 12 413 $61,477 $93,475 $24,051

Top programs at Houston Christian University by completer earnings

Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file

median earnings

What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Program Credential Completers Median Earnings Median Debt
Business Administration, Management and Operations Master's 51 $98,858 $47,848
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Bachelor's 97 $93,475 $21,750
International Business Master's - $88,650 -
Human Resources Management and Services Master's 29 $79,024 $33,850
Psychology, General Master's 38 $75,052 $47,833
Educational Administration and Supervision Master's 11 $71,086 $27,333
Student Counseling and Personnel Services Master's 1 $69,694 -
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology Master's 4 $69,658 $57,387
Marketing Bachelor's 13 $68,490 -
Curriculum and Instruction Master's 26 $60,834 $38,564
Theological and Ministerial Studies Master's 49 $59,295 $41,000
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General Bachelor's 85 $54,696 $28,333
Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's 43 $53,464 $23,500
Psychology, General Bachelor's 50 $53,021 $24,250
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Bachelor's 30 $45,718 $19,910

Independent Scorecard matches among reporting colleges — not recommendations from the institution or a counselor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Houston Christian University?
Houston Christian University is a private nonprofit institution in Houston, Texas. The acceptance rate is 84.4%. The average SAT score is 1,084. Undergraduate enrollment is 2,886 students.
How much do Houston Christian University former students earn?
Federally aided former students at Houston Christian University who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $55,933 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $44,595.
How much does Houston Christian University cost?
The average net price at Houston Christian University is $20,629. In-state tuition is $39,430 and out-of-state tuition is $39,430. Median student debt at graduation is $22,642.
What is the graduation rate at Houston Christian University?
Houston Christian University has a 49.5% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 69.3%.
Is Houston Christian University worth the student debt?
The median student debt at Houston Christian University is $22,642, while former students earn a median of $55,933 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 40% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 75.4% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $240.

Sources & methodology

Private-nonprofit profiles emphasize Scorecard cost-after-aid and completion alongside IPEDS Carnegie class. Endowment, gifts, and sticker price are not Scorecard fields on this page.

Figures are the Mar–Jul 2026 federal retrievals. Nonprofit campuses vary widely in aid practice — net price here is the Title-IV-recipient cohort average, not an individual award letter. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Where to go next from Houston Christian University

Nonprofit Scorecard medians describe federal-aid recipients who were working and not enrolled — they are not sticker-price ROI and not advice.

Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Private-nonprofit profiles compile Scorecard net-price and earnings cohorts with IPEDS structure fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.