The educational landscape of **Houston, Texas** represents a diverse ecosystem of 1 institutions, ranging from large-scale public research hubs like Rice University to specialized private colleges. For the 2026 academic cycle, Houston has emerged as a prime target for value-seeking applicants. Our proprietary analysis of IPEDS data shows an average in-state tuition of $56,280, reflecting the region's economic standing within the Texas higher education sector.
Our proprietary index reveals how hard your SAT score works in Houston.
Annual savings compared to the **Texas state average**.
A 1450+ SAT score could save you $14,070/year.
Navigating admissions in Houston requires a dual-pronged focus on residency strategy and SAT-based merit aid. Houston is categorized by Extreme academic rigor, which translates to a hyper-competitive landscape where SAT scores above 1500 are often the baseline for merit aid. Applicants should focus on the **SAT-ROI Index** to identify specific universities in Houston where their current score yields the highest financial leverage. With a **SAT-ROI Index of 354**, Houston outperforms the Texas state average (301). This identifies the region as a **"Value Pillar"**, where students can achieve higher academic returns per SAT point compared to neighboring regions.
In Houston, the SAT-ROI Index measures how much tuition weight your SAT score can offset. A higher index means your score has more power to trigger merit aid, reducing your out-of-pocket costs.
With an academic rigor rating of Extreme, Houston universities range from highly selective. On average, students need to target the top 25% of the local score range for the best financial outcomes.
Houston's average ROI index is 354, while the state average is 301. This makes it a higher-value region than average.
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