The University of Houston's Department of Computer Science, part of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, offers a large and comparatively accessible pathway into a CS degree at a major public research university, with an MS program that enrolls roughly 300 graduate students (including about 100 PhD students) each year and undergraduate cohorts that produce several hundred Computer Science graduates annually. For international students weighing UH's CS program against smaller or more selective departments, the appeal is straightforward: a real research department (with active work in AI, software systems, visual computing, and human-computer interaction), a track-based MS structure that lets you specialize, and a Houston location with a fast-growing tech and energy-tech employer base.
This guide covers acceptance rate context, fees, admission requirements, how to strengthen your application, English-test rules, and career outcomes for UH Computer Science.
Acceptance Rate
The University of Houston does not publish a department-level acceptance rate for either the BS or MS in Computer Science. What is known:
- University-wide undergraduate acceptance rate (Fall 2025 Common Data Set): approximately 75.77% overall, with international applicants admitted at approximately 85.35%, the highest of any residency group
- Computer Science does not have a separate direct-admit GPA/test-score pathway the way UH's engineering majors do; undergraduate admission runs through UH's general freshman process, and students then declare or are admitted into the CS major within the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
- For the MS program, UH does not publish an admit rate; a competitive cumulative or last-60-hour GPA of 3.0/4.0 or higher is the general benchmark the department cites, with the strongest applicants well above that floor
Because Computer Science is one of the more popular majors nationally, and UH's MS program requires GRE scores for most tracks, treat the absence of a published acceptance rate as a signal to focus on building a strong quantitative and technical profile rather than trying to reverse-engineer a target percentage.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
Computer Science falls under UH's College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics tuition band for undergraduates, which is slightly lower per semester than the Architecture/Business/Engineering rate.
| Cost item | Amount (International/Non-Resident, 2026-2027) |
|---|---|
| Tuition & fees, per semester (fixed-rate full-time plan, Natural Sciences & Math) | ~$14,032.64 |
| Estimated annual undergraduate tuition & fees | ~$28,065/year |
| Graduate tuition, per credit hour (varies by department; Engineering rate used as reference) | ~$1,107/credit hour |
| Estimated MS tuition (9 credit hours/semester, full-time) | ~$20,000/year (before fees) |
| Room and board (on-campus) | ~$8,000-12,000/year (estimate) |
| Books and supplies | ~$1,000-1,500/year (estimate) |
| Mandatory international health insurance | ~$1,800-3,000/year (estimate) |
| Personal expenses | ~$5,300/year (estimate) |
UH does not publish one official consolidated total cost of attendance for international students combining all these categories; third-party aggregators estimate total annual cost (tuition plus living expenses) in the $38,000-45,000/year range for undergraduates. Some third-party sources cite MS Computer Science tuition figures as low as roughly $14,330 for the degree in aggregate contexts; because these figures vary by source and likely reflect different assumptions (partial program cost vs. full program, or in-state vs. non-resident rates), rely on UH's official per-credit-hour rate and your specific course load for planning purposes.
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate (BS in Computer Science)
- Completed application through UH's general international freshman process, plus the $90 international application fee
- Official secondary school transcripts (grades 9-12) with certified English translations if needed
- Copy of passport biometric page
- Financial documentation showing sufficient funds (UH's published estimate is around $43,110 for undergraduates)
- SAT/ACT: optional for most majors, including Computer Science
- English proficiency evidence (unless exempt)
Graduate (MS in Computer Science)
- UH Graduate School application (ApplyWeb) plus the Computer Science department supplement
- $80 application fee for international applicants
- Minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 cumulative or in the last 60 credit hours, with a B- or higher required on any prerequisite/deficiency coursework
- GRE: required for the Core, Data Analytics, Parallel and Distributed Systems, and Interactive Media tracks; waived for recent UH bachelor's graduates (within 3 years) with a 3.40+ GPA; optional but recommended for the Artificial Intelligence track, especially for applicants with a less technical background or lower GPA. The department's general guidance cites a combined verbal-plus-quantitative GRE score around 305 as competitive, though strong transcripts or research experience can offset a slightly lower score
- Statement of purpose, resume/CV, and three letters of recommendation
- English proficiency scores (unless exempt)
Deadlines: Fall entry, April 1 for international applicants (June 1 for US citizens/permanent residents); Spring entry, October 1 for all applicants.
How to Get Into University of Houston's Computer Science Program
-
Choose your MS track deliberately before applying. UH's Computer Science MS is organized into Core Computer Sciences, Data Analytics, Parallel and Distributed Systems, Interactive Media, and Artificial Intelligence tracks, and the GRE requirement differs across them. Applying to the track that best fits both your interests and your standardized-testing profile can materially change what you need to submit.
-
Build a technical portfolio, not just grades. Because the department runs active research in AI, software systems, visual computing, and human-computer interaction, a resume or SOP that references specific projects, internships, or research experience (even class projects with real technical depth) stands out in a department that receives large volumes of generic applications.
-
If you're eligible for the GRE waiver, don't skip preparing anyway. The GRE waiver for recent UH bachelor's graduates with a 3.40+ GPA is narrow; most international applicants coming from outside UH will need to submit scores, so plan GRE prep timelines well ahead of the April 1 international deadline.
-
Front-load your recommendation letters. Three letters are required, and departments like Computer Science value recommenders who can speak to specific technical or research ability rather than general character, so request letters from professors or supervisors who directly oversaw your technical work.
-
Apply well ahead of the April 1 international Fall deadline. International applications require additional processing time for transcript evaluation and visa-related documentation, so don't treat April 1 as a submit-on-the-day deadline.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
Computer Science follows UH's university-wide English proficiency minimums; the department does not publish a higher threshold specific to the major, though the average scores among admitted MS applicants tend to sit close to or above the university floor.
- IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall (undergraduate and graduate)
- TOEFL iBT: 79 (undergraduate and graduate)
- Duolingo English Test: 105
- PTE Academic: 53 (published for graduate admission)
Scores are valid for two years from the test date. The requirement is waived for applicants with a qualifying degree from an English-medium institution, or for those who complete Level 6 of UH's Intensive English Program. For the complete breakdown across UH's programs, see the University of Houston guide.
Career Outcomes
UH does not publish an employment rate specific to Computer Science graduates, but the university and college-level data provide useful context:
- Computer Science sits within the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, which does not publish a separate consolidated employment/knowledge-rate figure the way the College of Engineering and Bauer College of Business do
- University-wide alumni earnings (via federal College Scorecard data, aggregated by third parties): average of about $45,500/year six years after enrollment, rising to about $59,000/year at ten years, across all UH graduates, not CS-specific
- US News ranking context: UH's graduate Computer Science program has been ranked in the lower half of nationally ranked CS programs by US News in recent cycles; treat any specific rank number as a third-party estimate that shifts year to year rather than a fixed fact
- A precise, program-specific starting salary or employment percentage for Computer Science graduates is not published by UH; industry-wide, CS graduates from research universities typically report strong placement given persistent tech-sector demand, but this is a general industry pattern, not a UH-specific published statistic
Computer Science is a STEM-designated degree, qualifying international graduates for the standard 12-month OPT period plus the 24-month STEM OPT extension, for up to three years of US work authorization after graduation.
FAQ
Does UH publish a specific acceptance rate for Computer Science? No. Neither the BS nor the MS program has a published department-level acceptance rate. The clearest available context is the university-wide undergraduate rate (about 75.77% overall, about 85.35% for international applicants) and the MS program's general 3.0/4.0 GPA benchmark.
Is the GRE required for the MS in Computer Science? It depends on the track. The Core, Data Analytics, Parallel and Distributed Systems, and Interactive Media tracks generally require it; the Artificial Intelligence track lists it as optional but recommended; and recent UH bachelor's graduates with a 3.40+ GPA can have it waived.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need? The university-wide minimums apply: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79, Duolingo 105, and PTE 53 (graduate). The Computer Science department does not publish a higher threshold.
How much does the MS in Computer Science cost for international students? Using UH's published per-credit-hour non-resident rate and a typical full-time load of 9 credit hours/semester, tuition alone runs approximately $20,000/year before fees; total cost of attendance with living expenses is commonly estimated at $38,000-45,000/year by third-party sources, though UH does not publish one official combined figure.
Is UH Computer Science STEM-OPT eligible? Yes. It is a STEM-designated degree, qualifying graduates for the standard OPT period plus the 24-month STEM OPT extension.
What MS tracks does UH Computer Science offer? Core Computer Sciences, Data Analytics, Parallel and Distributed Systems, Interactive Media, and Artificial Intelligence, each with slightly different admission and GRE requirements.