Key Takeaways
- Record freshman class: The University of Houston is welcoming nearly 7,100 new freshmen, topping 7,000 for the first time in its history and marking the third consecutive year of record freshman enrollment. Completed freshman applications also hit a record high of nearly 39,000, up 12% from last year.
- Enrollment momentum extends across UH: The University remains a top destination nationally for transfer students, with 4,100 new transfers arriving this fall. New graduate enrollment is up 6.5% from last year and the Honors College is welcoming 750 new students.
- Increasing investment in students: Merit scholarships awarded to new undergraduate students increased 18% from last year and are up 51% since 2024.
The University of Houston is carrying strong enrollment momentum into the fall semester, welcoming a record-breaking class of nearly 7,100 freshmen — the first in UH history to top 7,000 — and marking the third consecutive year of record freshman enrollment.
Interest in UH also reached a new high, with nearly 39,000 completed freshman applications, a 12% increase from last year.
Those records reflect broader growth across the University, including an increase in new graduate students, continued strength in transfer enrollment and a growing Honors College.
“Another record-breaking class of freshmen means one thing: more students are choosing the University of Houston. They are discovering that the University is the perfect place to live, learn and launch their academic careers. We are honored to welcome both new and returning students to UH and support them on their journeys on campus and beyond.”
Diane Z. Chase
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at UH
A Top Destination for Students
The new freshman class is drawing students from across the country and around the world. Outside of Texas, the top states sending freshmen to UH are California, Louisiana and Illinois, while the most new international freshmen are coming from Vietnam, Canada and India.
The colleges enrolling the most new students are the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Cullen College of Engineering, the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and the C. T. Bauer College of Business.
The University’s appeal also makes it a leading destination for transfer students, with more than 4,100 new transfers joining UH this fall. Last year, U.S. News & World Report ranked UH No. 5 nationally — and No. 1 in Texas — for transfer enrollment.
Investing in Student Success
As enrollment grows, so does UH’s investment in the students it serves. Merit scholarships awarded to new undergraduate students increased 18% from last year and are up 51% since 2024.
Honors and graduate education are seeing gains as well. New graduate enrollment is up 6.5% this fall, reversing a decline last year, while the Honors College is welcoming 750 new students.
“The growth we’re seeing in the Honors College reflects the caliber and ambition of the students choosing the University of Houston,” said Brenda Rhoden, assistant dean for student success in the Honors College. “They come to UH ready to challenge themselves, explore new ideas and take advantage of the opportunities that come with being part of a major research university. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish.”