Head-to-head comparison
University of Houston vs Trinity University: which has better ROI?
Option A Houston, TX
University of Houston
- Net price / year
- $14,276
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,377
- Payback
- 4.1 yrs
Option B San Antonio, TX
Trinity University
- Net price / year
- $23,464
- Earnings, 10 years
- $71,668
- Payback
- 4 yrs
Trinity University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $93,856 in 4 years versus 4.1 years at University of Houston, on median earnings of $71,668 vs $62,377 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Houston | Trinity University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,276 | $23,464 |
| Total net cost | $57,104 | $93,856 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,377 | $71,668 |
| Median debt | $18,194 | $22,954 |
| Payback | 4.1 yrs | 4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $223,236 | $372,304 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Houston or Trinity University?
University of Houston, at $14,276 a year after aid versus $23,464 — a gap of $9,188 a year, or $36,752 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 or Trinity University graduates earn more?
Trinity University graduates report a median $71,668 ten years after entry, $9,291 more than the $62,377 at University of Houston. 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 or Trinity University?
University of Houston: its completers carry a median $18,194 in federal loans versus $22,954 at Trinity University, a difference of $4,760. 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?
84% of students finish at Trinity University, against 65% at University of Houston. 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.