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 (95.9% vs 88.6%); 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)
| Metric | Houston | Texas | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 163 | 172 | Texas |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.79 | 3.89 | Texas |
| Acceptance rate | 23.0% | 14.0% | Texas |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $31,326 | $38,236 | Houston |
| Non-resident tuition | $46,051 | $56,822 | Houston |
| Median grant | $11,500 | $23,375 | Texas |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 88.6% | 95.9% | Texas |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 92.7% | 96.5% | Texas |
| Bar passage vs. state average | +7.3 pts | +14.3 pts | Texas |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 92.4% | 99.4% | Texas |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 27.3% | 40.9% | Texas |
| Federal clerkships | 1.7% | 14.3% | Texas |
trajectory since 2011
Full profiles & related
Houston full profile · Texas full profile · Pin both on the interactive map → · 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, 95.9% against Houston's 88.6%.
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.