University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) vs Southern Methodist University (SMU)
When it comes to higher education, University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) and Southern Methodist University (SMU) offer distinct experiences for prospective students. UHCL, a public university, boasts an acceptance rate of 85%, making it more accessible to a wider range of students. SMU, a private university, has a more selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 52%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors at UHCL including Business, Education, and Nursing, while SMU is known for its strengths in Business, Engineering, and the Arts. UHCL's student body is predominantly composed of undergraduate students, while SMU has a larger graduate student population. Additionally, UHCL has a higher graduation rate compared to SMU. To help you make an informed decision about your educational journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these aspects and more. Explore the table to discover which university aligns best with your
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![]() Southern Methodist University |
![]() University of Houston-Clear Lake |
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Overview |
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Location | Dallas, Texas | Houston, Texas |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 91.0% | 74.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Methodism | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 53.1% | 91.2% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$75
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Undergraduate:
$45
Graduate:
$45
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SAT range | 1340 - 1510 | 978 - 1170 |
ACT range | 31 - 34 | 17 - 23 |
Students submitting SAT score | 16.0% | 62.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 23.0% | 7.0% |
Total number of applicants | 15,685 | 1,793 |
Total number of admissions given out | 8,333 | 1,635 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,572 | 334 |
Yield rate | 18.9% | 20.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $72,336 |
In state:
$32,030
Out of state:
$45,326
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Average net price | $41,986 | $16,737 |
Tuition | $53,464 |
In state:
$6,024
Out of state:
$19,320
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$10,860
Meal plan:
$6,578
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$12,909 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
74.0%
Average amount $34,940 |
73.0%
Average amount $12,458 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
25.0%
Average amount $5,241 |
19.0%
Average amount $4,905 |
Students taking out private loans |
5.0%
Average amount $29,055 |
1.0%
Average amount $9,181 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
6,908
Men 50.5% Women 49.5% |
6,764
Men 35.8% Women 64.2% |
Graduate students |
5,477
Men 52.4% Women 47.6% |
2,515
Men 35.7% Women 64.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 59.4% | 0.3% |
International students | 8.1% | 6.3% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 3,403 | 559 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Texas California Florida New York Illinois | Texas Illinois |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 17:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 82.4% | 53.1% |
Dropout rate | 4.7% | 10.5% |
Transferred out | 12.4% | 30.3% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Marketing (Master's Degrees)
Computer Systems Analysis (Master's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Operations Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Master's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
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