Houghton University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Houghton, New York. It enrolls 753 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes66
Value32
Affordability44
Selectivity48
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 88.7%, Houghton University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
88.7%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1170 – 1375
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
26 – 31
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Houghton University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
12.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Houghton University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,519 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,519
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
29%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
48%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$18,430
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,360
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,000
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,150
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,650
Total Cost of Attendance
$31,143
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$19,147
$30,001 – $48,000
$18,503
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,312
$75,001 – $110,000
$19,974
Over $110,000
$22,424
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$9,04225%percentile
$25,250Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$32,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,938
↓ $4,312
No Pell $18,750
↓ $6,500
Dependent students $20,500
↓ $4,750
Independent students $17,245
↓ $8,005
Female students $19,000
↓ $6,250
Male students $20,719
↓ $4,531
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($25,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
52% of full-time students who enrolled at Houghton University graduate within six years, and 81% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
52%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
81%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Houghton University earn a median of $46,721 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$46,721
Earning > $25K
72%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$37,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$43,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$44,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,900, about 27% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
7.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 92% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Houghton University is home to 753 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
753
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
17%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 75.6%569
International 7.0%53
Black 5.3%40
Other 3.9%29
Hispanic 1.7%13
Asian 0.9%7
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Houghton University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: RemoteHoughton, New York
Housing
Strongly residential978 beds for 753 students
Adult Learners
6%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Houghton University offers
a varied set of programs:
36 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Houghton University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$96M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$57,717
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
53 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
26
49%
$64,191
Associate Professors
12
23%
$53,524
Assistant Professors
15
28%
$49,851
Pros & Cons of Houghton University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Houghton University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Best for:
Based on the data, Houghton University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Houghton University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Houghton University.
Is Houghton University hard to get into?
Houghton University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 88.7%.
What is the acceptance rate at Houghton University?
Houghton University has an acceptance rate of 88.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Houghton University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Houghton University scored between 1170 and 1375 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Houghton University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Houghton University scored between 26 and 31 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Houghton University cost?
The average net price after aid at Houghton University is $20,519 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Houghton University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $46,721 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,519 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Houghton University known for?
Houghton University is best known for its programs in Biology, Business Administration, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Houghton University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Houghton University are $46,721, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Houghton University accredited?
Yes. Houghton University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Houghton University?
Houghton University enrolls 753 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Houghton University?
Houghton University graduates 52% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Houghton University a public or private college?
Houghton University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Houghton University located?
Houghton University is located in Houghton, New York.
What programs does Houghton University offer?
Houghton University offers 36 distinct programs. The most popular include Biology, Business Administration, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Houghton University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Houghton University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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