Houston City College
Tuition, net price, admissions, graduation rate, and graduate salary · Houston, Texas
Net price / year
$5,737
after grants & scholarships
lower than 91% of public 4-year colleges
Acceptance rate
Open admission
accepts most applicants
Graduation rate
17%
within 150% of normal time
lower than 97% of public 4-year colleges
Median earnings
$50,591
4 years after graduating
lower than 83% of public 4-year colleges
Houston City College at a glance
- What is the tuition at Houston City College?
- In-state undergraduate tuition and fees are $2,040 for the 2024-25 academic year, or $5,460 for out-of-state students.
- What is the cost of attendance at Houston City College?
- The average cost of attendance is $12,009 a year before financial aid (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses.
- What is the net price at Houston City College?
- The average net price for in-state students is $5,737 a year after grants and scholarships (2023-24).
- What is the acceptance rate at Houston City College?
- This school has open admission: most applicants who meet basic requirements are accepted.
- What is the graduation rate at Houston City College?
- 17% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time, or 6 years (entering classes through fall 2018).
- How much do graduates of Houston City College earn?
- The median graduate earns $50,591 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled (2024 dollars).
Key takeaways
- At $5,737 a year, the average net price is lower than 91% of public 4-year colleges.
- The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 1.5 years of work (not counting income forgone while studying).
- This school has open admission, so most applicants who meet basic requirements are accepted.
- Graduates earn a median $50,591 four years after finishing, less than 83% of public 4-year colleges.
- 17% of students finish within 150% of normal time, lower than 97% of public 4-year colleges.
Tuition and cost of attendance at Houston City College
Average net price (in-state)
$5,737 per year
Cost of attendance minus average grants and scholarships, for first-time full-time students receiving federal aid.
Estimate your own price with the Houston City College net price calculator ↗
Estimated total net cost
$22,948
Net price × 4 years, at today's prices and assuming on-time completion. Your actual cost depends on your aid.
Net price by family income
Average yearly net price for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k $5,722
- $30–48k $4,271
- $48–75k $6,534
- $75–110k $8,363
- $110k+ $10,123
Where the sticker price goes· Cost of attendance $12,009
- Tuition & fees$2,040
- Books & supplies$2,250
- Room & board$9,330
- Other expenses$4,300
- Tuition & fees (in-state)
- $2,040
- Tuition & fees (out-of-state)
- $5,460
Houston City College acceptance rate and admissions
Open admission
The school admits most applicants who meet basic requirements.
Graduation rate and salary after graduating from Houston City College
Graduation rate
17%
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time.
Typical monthly payment
$148
On a standard 10-year federal plan.
Years of earnings premium to cover cost
1.5 years
Net cost ÷ (graduate earnings − high-school graduate earnings). Excludes income forgone while studying and assumes today's earnings. A rough guide, not a prediction.
Earnings vs debt
Of graduates working and not enrolled, in 2024 dollars.
- Debt-to-earnings
- 0.3×Median debt divided by median earnings 4 years after graduating.
- Share of pay going to loans
- 3.5%
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0%
Outcomes by student group
The Scorecard reports some outcomes separately for groups of students. A group is left out when it is too small to report. These are school-level figures and say nothing about any individual student.
Completion within 150% of normal time, by group
Share of students who entered in 2018 and completed within 150% of normal time (six years at a four-year college, three at a two-year college).
All students, same entering cohort: 17%
Group rates and the all-student rate come from the same 2018 entering cohort, so they can be compared directly. Groups at small colleges can rest on very few students. Data period: Entering cohort 2018 (IPEDS).
Earnings ten years after entry
All students who entered this college, whether or not they graduated, in 2022 dollars, ten years after entry.
Typical range: middle half of students
25th percentile $18,789 · median $39,254 · 75th percentile $61,121
Median by family income
Median by sex
This is not the same as the graduates' earnings shown above. It covers everyone who entered, including students who left without a degree, ten years after entry and in 2022 dollars. The graduates' figure covers only completers, four years after finishing, in 2024 dollars. Do not compare the two directly.
Data period: Students who entered in academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11 (pooled), earnings measured in 2020 and 2021, 2022 dollars (Treasury).
Median federal student debt, by group
Median federal loan debt of students who borrowed, when they left school, by group.
By Pell Grant status
By first-generation status
By family income
By gender
Data period: Loans in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (pooled, NSLDS).
How borrowers are doing
One year after leaving school and entering repayment, here is where the 16,403 federal-loan borrowers from this college stood. It covers borrowers only, not students who did not take federal loans.
Repayment status one year after entering repayment
- Paid in full 2%
- Making progress 2%
- Not making progress 13%
- Delinquent 1%
- Default 0%
- Forbearance 66%
- Deferment 15%
- Discharged 1%
What the terms mean
- Paid in full:
- The borrower has paid off the loans completely.
- Making progress:
- Payments are reducing the loan balance, not just covering interest.
- Not making progress:
- The borrower is paying, but not enough to shrink the balance.
- Delinquent:
- Payments are late but the loan is not yet in default.
- Default:
- The borrower has missed payments for so long that the loan is officially in default.
- Forbearance:
- Payments are temporarily paused or reduced, and interest may keep adding up.
- Deferment:
- Payments are on hold for an approved reason, such as returning to school.
- Discharged:
- The loan was cancelled, for example because of a disability or a school closure.
16,403 borrowers · Data period: Borrowers who entered repayment in the AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 cohorts (pooled, NSLDS).
Programs and majors at Houston City College ranked by earnings
| Program | Earnings, 4 yrs after | Earnings over time | Compared with the U.S. median for this field | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Associate · Graduates: 66 | $89,002 | 1 yr$66,7434 yrs$89,0025 yrs$101,897 | U.S. median $80,813 U.S. middle half $61.1K–$103.8K · Above the U.S. median | $12,455 |
| Engineering Science Associate · Graduates: 82 | $80,602 | 1 yr$61,5184 yrs$80,6025 yrs$73,244 | U.S. median $75,098 U.S. middle half $55.1K–$91.3K · Above the U.S. median | $11,373 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate · Graduates: 92 | $80,188 | 1 yr$67,0984 yrs$80,1885 yrs$81,939 | U.S. median $65,389 U.S. middle half $46.4K–$85K · Above the U.S. median | $17,487 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Associate · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $78,980 | 1 yr$56,0054 yrs$78,9805 yrs$64,875 | U.S. median $61,982 U.S. middle half $42.2K–$79.2K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Physical Science Technologies/Technicians Associate · Graduates: 101 | $74,124 | 1 yr$60,6124 yrs$74,1245 yrs$63,218 | U.S. median $80,768 U.S. middle half $51.1K–$132.4K · Below the U.S. median | $16,784 |
| Mining and Petroleum Technologies/Technicians Associate · Graduates: 35 | $73,729 | 1 yr$47,1464 yrs$73,7295 yrs$44,842 | U.S. median $77,878 U.S. middle half $51.2K–$113.8K · Below the U.S. median | $19,625 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions Associate · Graduates: 37 | $63,664 | 1 yr$48,1724 yrs$63,664 | U.S. median $57,472 U.S. middle half $43.5K–$72.1K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications Associate · Graduates: 41 | $62,339 | 1 yr$42,8754 yrs$62,339 | U.S. median $54,971 U.S. middle half $39K–$74.4K · Above the U.S. median | $14,750 |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians Associate · Graduates: 36 | $60,458 | 1 yr$45,5484 yrs$60,4585 yrs$55,016 | U.S. median $55,895 U.S. middle half $41.5K–$69.5K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Associate · Graduates: 59 | $58,846 | 1 yr$24,6214 yrs$58,846 | U.S. median $44,758 U.S. middle half $27.5K–$65.1K · Above the U.S. median | $11,150 |
Show all 22 programs
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Associate · Graduates: 22 Small sample | $58,451 | 4 yrs$58,4515 yrs$56,145 | U.S. median $37,656 U.S. middle half $24.8K–$49.8K · Above the U.S. median | $13,365 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations Associate · Graduates: 335 | $52,985 | 1 yr$34,7324 yrs$52,9855 yrs$46,026 | U.S. median $48,733 U.S. middle half $31.7K–$67.6K · Above the U.S. median | $15,625 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Associate · Graduates: 62 | $52,208 | 1 yr$42,4594 yrs$52,2085 yrs$56,067 | U.S. median $42,269 U.S. middle half $28.6K–$56K · Above the U.S. median | $15,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Associate · Graduates: 1,803 | $48,944 | 1 yr$29,4234 yrs$48,9445 yrs$45,840 | U.S. median $44,125 U.S. middle half $28.9K–$61.6K · Above the U.S. median | $14,301 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $48,330 | 1 yr$39,8354 yrs$48,330 | U.S. median $58,424 U.S. middle half $40.8K–$77.5K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Accounting and Related Services Associate · Graduates: 31 | $46,694 | 1 yr$34,4474 yrs$46,6945 yrs$40,274 | U.S. median $47,660 U.S. middle half $32.4K–$63.7K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services Associate · Graduates: 35 | $36,872 | 1 yr$35,3004 yrs$36,8725 yrs$42,965 | U.S. median $37,587 U.S. middle half $25.2K–$49.7K · Below the U.S. median | $33,518 |
| Graphic Communications Associate · Graduates: 24 Small sample | $34,557 | 1 yr$16,1554 yrs$34,5575 yrs$39,213 | U.S. median $36,221 U.S. middle half $21.7K–$48.9K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Associate · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $30,434 | — | U.S. median $38,127 U.S. middle half $22.8K–$53.9K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services Associate · Graduates: 43 | $27,150 | 1 yr$26,4194 yrs$27,1505 yrs$22,509 | U.S. median $39,605 U.S. middle half $26.7K–$52.8K · Below the U.S. median | $20,327 |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians Associate · Graduates: 19 Small sample | $27,069 | 4 yrs$27,0695 yrs$42,871 | U.S. median $35,660 U.S. middle half $19.6K–$50.5K · Below the U.S. median | $23,470 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services Associate · Graduates: 20 Small sample | $22,631 | 1 yr$15,3724 yrs$22,6315 yrs$21,810 | U.S. median $27,014 U.S. middle half $14K–$39.6K · Below the U.S. median | $21,317 |
Earnings are for graduates working and not enrolled, 4 years after completing, in 2024 dollars.
The U.S. median and middle half (25th to 75th percentile) are for graduates of the same field and credential level at all colleges, 4 years after completing.
The 1-year, 4-year and 5-year figures come from different graduating cohorts and dollar years (1-year: AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 graduates, 2022 dollars; 4-year: AY2017-18 and AY2018-19 graduates, 2024 dollars; 5-year: AY2014-15 and AY2015-16 graduates, 2022 dollars), so read them as three separate measures, not a single career path.
Small samples are noisy: the Scorecard adds privacy noise to program figures and some rows are based on only a handful of graduates, so rows marked “small sample” can move a lot from year to year.
What students study
The largest fields among the degrees and certificates this college awarded, grouped by two-digit CIP code (the federal Classification of Instructional Programs). Fields under 1% are left out.
Share of degrees and certificates awarded, by field
A large share means many awards, not necessarily many students or higher earnings. Data period: Awards in academic year 2024-25 (IPEDS).
Who attends
A snapshot of the undergraduate student body as this college reported it to the federal government. Shares are shown as published; they can differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
Race and ethnicity
- White 10.3%
- Black or African American 27.5%
- Hispanic or Latino 36.9%
- Asian 9.5%
- American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
- Two or more races 2.4%
- U.S. nonresident 10.1%
- Race and ethnicity unknown 3.1%
Federal reporting categories. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are counted as nonresident, and students who did not report are counted as unknown. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Gender
- Men 41.5%
- Women 58.6%
Federal reporting uses two categories. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Students aged 25 or older
33%
of undergraduates
Many adult students work or have families while enrolled. Data period: Fall 2023 (IPEDS).
Students and campus
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 40,503
- Part-time students
- 61%
- Receive Pell Grants
- 36%
- Receive federal loans
- 15%
- Students per faculty member
- 23 : 1
- Setting
- City
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Where it ranks
This college appears in the top 50 of these TuitionScope rankings.
Guides worth reading
Plain-language explainers that help you read the numbers on this page.
More in Texas
In Texas
National rankings
Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at Houston City College?
For the 2024-25 academic year, Houston City College reported undergraduate tuition and fees of $2,040 for in-state students and $5,460 for out-of-state students. These are published prices before grants and scholarships; what you pay depends on your aid.
What is the cost of attendance and net price at Houston City College?
The average cost of attendance at Houston City College is $12,009 a year (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses. After grants and scholarships, the average net price is $5,737 a year. That is lower than 91% of public 4-year colleges.
How much financial aid do students at Houston City College get?
36% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. 15% receive federal loans. The average net price runs from $5,722 a year for families earning under $30,000 to $10,123 for families earning over $110,000 (2023-24).
What is the acceptance rate at Houston City College?
Houston City College has open admission: it accepts most applicants who meet basic requirements.
What is the graduation rate at Houston City College?
17% of first-time, full-time students at Houston City College finish within 150% of normal time.
How much do Houston City College graduates earn after graduation?
The median graduate earns $50,591 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled in further study (2024 dollars). One year after finishing, the median is $34,320.
Is Houston City College worth it?
There is no single answer: it depends on your major, your aid and whether you finish. For Houston City College, the data shows this. The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 1.5 years of work. Graduates who borrowed have a median debt of $13,921, about 0.3 times their median earnings four years after finishing. 17% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time. These are averages, not predictions, and they do not count income forgone while studying.
How much debt do Houston City College graduates have?
Graduates who borrowed have a median federal-loan debt of $13,921, or about $148 a month on a 10-year plan.
Sources and data periods
All figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Periods differ by measure:
- Average net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Acceptance rate: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation rate: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25 pooled with previous years (# of total pooled years found in POOLYRS)
- Median earnings: Treasury AY2017-18, AY2018-19 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Median graduate debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
Some figures are blank because the school did not report them or the group was too small to publish. How we calculate things