Houston vs. Texas: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared

Both are Texas law schools. On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Texas is the more selective admit (median LSAT 172 vs 163); Texas posts the higher first-time bar passage (95.86% vs 88.63%); Houston is cheaper on sticker tuition ($31,326 vs $38,236); Texas places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (99.4% vs 92.4%).

Side by side (ABA Standard 509)

MetricHoustonTexasBetter
Admissions
Median LSAT163172Texas
Median undergraduate GPA3.793.89Texas
Acceptance rate23%14%Texas
Cost
Resident tuition$31,326$38,236Houston
Non-resident tuition$46,051$56,822Houston
Median grant$11,500$23,375Texas
Bar passage
First-time bar passage88.63%95.86%Texas
Two-year ultimate bar passage92.68%96.47%Texas
Bar passage vs. state average+7.3 pts+14.3 ptsTexas
Employment
Full-time, long-term JD employment92.4%99.4%Texas
Large-firm (250+) employment27.3%40.9%Texas
Federal clerkships1.7%14.3%Texas

15-year trajectory

First-time bar passage: 89.43% in 2011 to 88.63% in 202570%80%90%100%111315182022242588.63%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
Houston — First-time bar passage
First-time bar passage: 94.71% in 2011 to 95.86% in 202585%87.5%90%92.5%95%97.5%111315182022242595.86%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
Texas — First-time bar passage
Resident tuition: $28,130 in 2011 to $31,326 in 2025$26,000$28,000$30,000$32,000$34,0001113151719212325$31,326
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
Houston — Resident tuition
Resident tuition: $30,243 in 2011 to $38,236 in 2025$27,500$30,000$32,500$35,000$37,500$40,0001113151719212325$38,236
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
Texas — Resident tuition

Full profiles & related

Houston full profile · Texas full profile · All Texas law schools

FAQ

Is Houston or Texas harder to get into?

Texas is the tougher admit — its median LSAT is 172 against Houston's 163.

Which is cheaper, Houston or Texas?

Houston is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $31,326 versus Texas's $38,236.

Which has better bar passage, Houston or Texas?

Texas has the higher first-time bar passage, 95.86% against Houston's 88.63%.

Which has better job outcomes, Houston or Texas?

Texas places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (99.4% vs 92.4%).

Houston vs Texas: which is better?

It depends on what you weigh — the table above shows where each wins. Across the four headline measures (selectivity, sticker cost, first-time bar passage, and JD employment), Texas leads on more of them, but read the row that matters most to you rather than the count.

Source: ABA Standard 509 Required Disclosures, most recent reported cycle. Last updated June 26, 2026.

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