PrivateUrban

Houston Christian University

HCU

Houston, Texas 77074-3298

Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

UrbanGreek life

Known for health sciences

Houston Christian University is a private institution in Houston with particular strength in health sciences and business. With an average SAT of 1092, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A mid-sized campus of 2.8K undergraduates with a 18:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

50% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $55,933 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $19,710.

Established

1960

Motto

John 14:6

Mascot

Wakiza III (Live), Mingo (Animated)

Type

Private university

Division

Division I

Plan Your Visit

85%Acceptance

1092SAT Avg

2,777Students

18:1Student:Faculty

50%Grad Rate

$55,933Earnings 10yr

$19,710Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate85.2%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1092

Reading & WritingMid: 580

490610

MathMid: 565

480590

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 25

1928

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$38,100

Room & Board$10,816

Books & Supplies$1,000

Total Cost of Attendance$47,605

Average Net Price$19,710

Median Debt at Graduation$22,642

Monthly Payment (10yr)$240

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$17,782

$30–48K$17,020

$48–75K$20,618

$75–110K$23,711

$110K+$27,103

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

44.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.7%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$11,000

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

Peer Average

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

Burglary

Aggravated Assault

Robbery

Motor Vehicle Theft

Sex Offenses

Arson

Drug Arrests

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (104)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

69%

Below Average

Student Body

Undergrads

2,777

Gender Split

62% / 38%

Women / Men

First Generation

36%

Pell Grant Recipients

54%

Race & Ethnicity

White 18%

Black 24%

Hispanic 40%

Asian 6%

Two+ 4%

Int'l 3%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate49.8%

Freshman Retention69.2%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$44,595

10 Years$55,933

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Huskies

BasketballSoccerBasketball tournamentGolf championshipsGymnastics championshipsGymnasticsSoccer championsCross country

History & Fun Facts

•History The university was founded in 1960 by the Baptist General Convention of Texas as Houston Baptist College.
•University leaders announced a name change from Houston Baptist University to its current name in September 2022.
•As of 2025, the university's president is Robert Sloan.
•Brackney, Congregation and Campus: Baptists in Higher Education, Mercer University Press, USA, 2008, p.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

106Above Average

Estimated from TX state average + large city premium

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 0"Sunny days: 240Rainy days: 85

Nearest Cities

Houstonpop. 2.3M

10 mi(17 min)

Austinpop. 960K

139 mi(241 min)

San Antoniopop. 1.5M

180 mi(312 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

IAH Houston Intercontinental23 mi

AUS Austin133 mi

SAT San Antonio178 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1614 mi · ~46h 38m drive

New York, NY1427 mi · ~41h 13m drive

Hartford, CT1521 mi · ~43h 56m drive

Providence, RI1582 mi · ~45h 42m drive

Albany, NY1501 mi · ~43h 22m drive

Syracuse, NY1412 mi · ~40h 47m drive

Rochester, NY1357 mi · ~39h 12m drive

Buffalo, NY1295 mi · ~37h 25m drive

Philadelphia, PA1350 mi · ~39h drive

Pittsburgh, PA1147 mi · ~33h 8m drive

Harrisburg, PA1279 mi · ~36h 57m drive

Newark, NJ1420 mi · ~41h 1m drive

Washington, DC1228 mi · ~35h 29m drive

Baltimore, MD1260 mi · ~36h 24m drive

Atlanta, GA711 mi · ~20h 32m drive

Charlotte, NC936 mi · ~27h 2m drive

Raleigh, NC1065 mi · ~30h 46m drive

Miami, FL975 mi · ~28h 10m drive

Orlando, FL857 mi · ~24h 45m drive

Tampa, FL799 mi · ~23h 5m drive

Nashville, TN675 mi · ~19h 30m drive

New Orleans, LA327 mi · ~9h 27m drive

Richmond, VA1170 mi · ~33h 48m drive

Chicago, IL950 mi · ~27h 27m drive

Detroit, MI1115 mi · ~32h 13m drive

Minneapolis, MN1063 mi · ~30h 43m drive

St. Louis, MO688 mi · ~19h 53m drive

Kansas City, MO652 mi · ~18h 50m drive

Indianapolis, IN875 mi · ~25h 17m drive

Columbus, OH1002 mi · ~28h 57m drive

Cleveland, OH1123 mi · ~32h 27m drive

Milwaukee, WI1014 mi · ~29h 18m drive

Dallas, TX226 mi · ~6h 32m drive

Houston, TX10 mi · ~17 min drive

Austin, TX139 mi · ~4h 1m drive

San Antonio, TX180 mi · ~5h 12m drive

Los Angeles, CA1364 mi · ~39h 24m drive

San Francisco, CA1637 mi · ~47h 17m drive

San Diego, CA1294 mi · ~37h 23m drive

Seattle, WA1887 mi · ~54h 31m drive

Portland, OR1831 mi · ~52h 54m drive

Denver, CO877 mi · ~25h 20m drive

Phoenix, AZ1007 mi · ~29h 5m drive

Salt Lake City, UT1196 mi · ~34h 33m drive

Honolulu, HI3886 mi · ~112h 16m drive

Deep South / Subtropical (warm winters, hot summers)

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