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Huston-Tillotson University

Private nonprofit Austin, TX · Urban · Southwest · 100% data
A Selectivity C+ Earnings C Diversity
Graduation Rate
35% D
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$42,937 C+
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$19,719 C-
Close to the national average
Acceptance Rate
39% A
Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Earnings +5% vs avg
Graduation -39% vs avg
Net Price 15% vs avg

Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 12.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $12.4 over 20 years.

12.4× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $12.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $899,261.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduation of 35% — 39% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $12.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Huston-Tillotson University Matters

Huston-Tillotson University is a private college in Austin, TX and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private College
Carnegie Class
Baccalaureate College
Enrollment
1,005
Setting
Urban
Designations
HBCU · 78
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Psychology, Education, Humanities

Why students choose Huston-Tillotson University

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community
HBCU community
A historically Black college with a strong leadership pipeline

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 53% overall
C+
Earnings
$42,937 median
C-
Value
2.2× net price
C-
Affordability
$19,719/yr net
D
Graduation
35% graduate
A
Selectivity
39% admit rate
C
Diversity
0.57 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of just over 1,000 students, Huston-Tillotson University caters to those who appreciate a tight-knit community while still enjoying the vibrancy of Austin, Texas. The school stands out for its focus on essential fields like Business and Marketing, Psychology, Education, Criminal Justice, and Computer Science & IT. This mix allows students to pursue various career paths in growing industries, ensuring that their education aligns with real-world opportunities.

Looking at life after graduation, students can expect to earn around $42,937 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure provides a solid foundation, although it’s crucial to consider it in relation to the cost of attendance. With a significant percentage of students receiving Pell Grants—61%—many find that financial aid plays a key role in making education more accessible. While the graduation rate is 35%, it reflects the challenges some students face, but those who do finish can still find pathways to upward mobility.

On the financial side, the net price of attending Huston-Tillotson is approximately $19,719, which may seem high but becomes more manageable with aid. The median debt stands at $30,750, a number that requires careful planning but is not insurmountable for graduates. Students who tend to thrive here are often those who are committed to overcoming obstacles and are eager to engage with their community, both academically and socially.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Huston-Tillotson University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Huston-Tillotson University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Huston-Tillotson University, located in Austin, Texas, reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 39%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,014. The graduation rate is roughly 35%.

Acceptance Rate
39%
Retention Rate
58%
SAT Average
1014
ACT Midpoint
17
SAT Range
800–1160
ACT Range
16–28
Full-Time Faculty
35%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,364
Student–Faculty Ratio
16:1
Diversity Index
0.57
First-Gen Students
43%
Applicants
1,885
Admitted
979

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Huston-Tillotson University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Huston-Tillotson University is $26,709, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $19,719. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $19,219 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $30,750 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$26,709
Out-of-State
$26,709
Avg Net Price
$19,719
Median Debt
$30,750
Pell Grant Rate
61%
Federal Loan Rate
69%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$19,219
Family Income $30K–$48K
$19,361
Family Income $48K–$75K
$20,487
Family Income $110K+
$24,418

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Huston-Tillotson University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Huston-Tillotson University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Huston-Tillotson University report median earnings of $42,937, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$38,342
8 Years
$40,664
10 Years
$42,937
Debt-to-Earnings
0.72x
Earning > $25K
50%

Earnings Trajectory

$38,342 6yr $40,664 8yr $42,937 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (42)
21%
100% (42)
21%
100% (42)
21%
100% (42)
21%

How Huston-Tillotson Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation35%Earnings 10yr$43KNet Price$20KRetention58%Median Debt$31KPell Grant Rate61%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$19K$0-30K$19K$30-48K$20K$48-75K$24K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Huston-Tillotson University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Huston-Tillotson University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $19,719/year ($78,876 total). Graduates earn $42,937 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $978,137 in total earnings — a net gain of $899,261 (12.4× your investment). The median debt is $30,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 35% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$78,876
Projected 20yr Earnings
$978,137
Net Return
$899,261
ROI Multiple
12.4×
Cost Per Year
$19,719
Median Debt
$30,750
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
35%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Huston-Tillotson University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Huston-Tillotson University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.34, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.34
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.06
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
4.4%
Support Ratio
0.99
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$-1,965,457

Top Programs

The fields Huston-Tillotson University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Huston-Tillotson University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Huston-Tillotson University, located in Austin, Texas, reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 39%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,014. The graduation rate is roughly 35%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Huston-Tillotson University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Huston-Tillotson University is $26,709, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $19,719. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $19,219 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $30,750 in federal student loans.

Is Huston-Tillotson University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Huston-Tillotson University report median earnings of $42,937, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

How Connected Is Huston-Tillotson University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Huston-Tillotson University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.34, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Huston-Tillotson University.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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