Head-to-head comparison
University of Houston-Downtown vs Texas Southern University: which has better ROI?
Option A Houston, TX
University of Houston-Downtown
- Net price / year
- $10,542
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,551
- Payback
- 8.1 yrs
Option B Houston, TX
Texas Southern University
- Net price / year
- $16,590
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,924
- Payback
- No payback
University of Houston-Downtown has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $42,168 in 8.1 years versus not at all at Texas Southern University, on median earnings of $53,551 vs $38,924 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Houston-Downtown | Texas Southern University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,542 | $16,590 |
| Total net cost | $42,168 | $66,360 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,551 | $38,924 |
| Median debt | $18,750 | $29,000 |
| Payback | 8.1 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $61,652 | -$255,080 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Houston-Downtown or Texas Southern University?
University of Houston-Downtown, at $10,542 a year after aid versus $16,590 — a gap of $6,048 a year, or $24,192 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do University of Houston-Downtown or Texas Southern University graduates earn more?
University of Houston-Downtown graduates report a median $53,551 ten years after entry, $14,627 more than the $38,924 at Texas Southern University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, University of Houston-Downtown or Texas Southern University?
University of Houston-Downtown: its completers carry a median $18,750 in federal loans versus $29,000 at Texas Southern University, a difference of $10,250. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
33% of students finish at University of Houston-Downtown, against 22% at Texas Southern University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.