University of Houston-Downtown — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of Houston-Downtown charges a net price of $10,542/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $42,168. Graduates earn a median $53,551 ten years after entry, $5,191/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 8.1 years — a 20-year net return of $61,652, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
University of Houston-Downtown's 8.1-year payback ranks #698 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 46% of them, and #31 of 213 in Texas.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $10,542/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $42,168 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $53,551 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $5,191/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $18,750 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 8.1 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $61,652 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on University of Houston-Downtown's own numbers. Net price $10,542 × 4 years = $42,168 total. Median earnings $53,551 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $5,191 a year of premium. $42,168 ÷ $5,191 = 8.1 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $61,652. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do University of Houston-Downtown students graduate with?
A median $18,750 in federal loans among completers, or 35% of the $53,551 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of University of Houston-Downtown students graduate?
33% finish their degree — 67% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $42,168 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $127,782 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is University of Houston-Downtown expensive compared with other Texas colleges?
Its $10,542 net price runs $8,817 below the $19,359 median across the 213 Texas colleges we profile, and $35,268 less across the full degree.