University of Houston-Clear Lake

Admission to the University of Houston--Clear Lake is non-selective, allowing most candidates to secure a place. In 2025, the university admitted 90.5% of its applicants, an acceptance rate that is higher than 66% of peer schools in a comparison group of similarly ranked public universities. While obtaining an offer is accessible, the school demonstrates modest drawing power among admitted students, recording a yield rate of 22.2% that same year. In the 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, the university placed at rank 353, continuing a downward shift from rank 331 in 2023. A low yield combined with a high acceptance rate indicates that admitted students frequently weigh several alternatives before enrolling. For prospective applicants, these admission dynamics mean that securing entry carries minimal competitive hurdles.

Applicants targeting the University of Houston--Clear Lake need standardized test scores that align with moderate academic benchmarks. For enrolled students in 2025, the median SAT score was 1055, which is higher than 43% of peer schools among similarly ranked public universities. On the ACT, the middle fifty percent of enrolled students recorded composite scores between 20 and 25. Standardized testing among incoming students is predominantly centered on the SAT, with ACT submissions accounting for a small portion of the class. Prospective applicants achieving test scores within or above these middle ranges will find their profiles well matched to the institution's typical academic expectations. Because the university admits the large majority of applicants, candidates who reach these established testing thresholds can approach admission with a strong degree of confidence.

Undergraduate degrees at the University of Houston--Clear Lake are fairly dispersed rather than centered in just a few disciplines. In 2025, the institution awarded 1,548 bachelor's degrees, with its three largest programs—Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other; General Psychology; and General Education—making up 26.2% of the graduating class. The university's largest undergraduate fields do not correspond with its most recognized programs, as undergraduate subjects like computer science and business place well down in national subject rankings, while graduate business specializations carry relatively higher standings. When evaluating financial outcomes, 2023 earnings data demonstrate that engineering disciplines produce the highest starting compensation. Bachelor's graduates in Mechanical Engineering achieved median first-year earnings of $81,277, while Computer Engineering graduates followed at $75,629. International enrollment also displays a sharp divide across degree levels, with international students comprising a small fraction of bachelor's recipients but representing heavy majorities in master's fields like computer science. Prospective students should recognize that technical paths deliver the most lucrative initial post-college salaries.

The student body at the University of Houston--Clear Lake totaled 8,137 students in 2025, dominated largely by undergraduates. Continuing undergraduate students formed the largest single segment at 4,663 individuals, accompanied by substantial transfer cohorts, first-time freshmen, and master's candidates. Hispanic learners constitute the single largest demographic across the campus. Asian students maintain an active presence across all academic levels, numbering 56 among first-time freshmen as well as forming notable shares among continuing undergraduates and graduate cohorts. Meanwhile, international students reflect a sharp divide by degree level. While international enrollment is negligible among undergraduates, it forms a substantial element of graduate study, with 414 international graduate students enrolled in 2025. This creates an undergraduate population that is predominantly regional and domestic, while the graduate division incorporates a much stronger global dynamic.

The age profile at the University of Houston--Clear Lake reflects an older, non-traditional student community. Among undergraduates in 2025, students aged 22 to 24 made up the largest segment at 29.3%, followed by those aged 25 to 29 at 20.4%, while students aged 20 to 21 formed the third-largest group. Similarly, graduate enrollment was anchored by older learners, led by individuals aged 25 to 29 who accounted for 30.9% of all graduate students, followed by those aged 22 to 24. This demographic balance demonstrates that campus life is shaped heavily by mature undergraduates and working adults balancing coursework with outside responsibilities, rather than by a traditional residential population entering directly from high school.

International enrollment at the University of Houston--Clear Lake reveals a stark separation between undergraduate and graduate divisions. In 2025, international students made up just 0.9% of the undergraduate student body, a proportion that has declined over recent years and remains higher than only 7% of 30 similarly ranked public universities. By contrast, international presence is far more established at the graduate level, where international students comprised 20.7% of all graduate enrollments in 2025, despite a long-term decline from earlier levels. Graduation outcomes illustrate this same imbalance. Bachelor's degrees were awarded almost entirely to domestic students, with the largest undergraduate majors recording almost zero international representation. At the master's level, international degree recipients concentrated heavily in technical fields, earning 90% of master's degrees awarded in Computer Science alongside dominant shares in Information Science and Engineering Management. Prospective international students will find that the university's global community is centered primarily within graduate STEM and technical disciplines.

Applicants exploring colleges in the Houston metropolitan area and wider Texas region have several notable alternative options nearby. Located within the same city, the University of Houston sits 17.5 kilometers away and is ranked 137 among national universities in the 2027 U.S. News rankings. Also in Houston is Rice University, a highly selective national university located 20.5 kilometers away that holds rank 16. Another immediate metropolitan alternative is the University of St Thomas, a national university 20.7 kilometers away that holds rank 202. Further northwest, Texas A&M University-College Station is situated 103 kilometers from campus and ranks 59 among national universities. These neighboring institutions provide students with a broad spectrum of educational scales and ranking profiles.

Campus safety data for the University of Houston--Clear Lake indicates a moderate overall incident profile with specific areas of student reporting. In 2025, the university registered a crime rate per 1,000 students of 3.7, reflecting an upward trend from earlier years. Looking at cumulative category totals across the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, stalking represented the most frequent report, totaling 52 incidents. Disciplinary referrals for liquor law violations formed the second-largest category, with 14 incidents recorded across the same span. Other reported offenses over those three years occurred in much smaller volumes, including occasional domestic violence cases, dating violence reports, sexual offenses, and weapons arrests. When evaluating campus environment and personal well-being, prospective students and their families should review these safety trends alongside the security resources and reporting mechanisms provided by the university.