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Houghton University

Houghton , NY

Houghton University is a private Christian liberal arts college located in Houghton, New York. Founded in 1883, the university is known for its strong commitment to academic excellence and spiritual formation. With a diverse student body and a tight-knit community, Houghton offers a transformative education that prepares students for a lifetime of service and leadership.

At Houghton University, students can choose from a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines, including the arts, sciences, education, business, and ministry. The university prides itself on providing a rigorous curriculum that encourages critical thinking, creativity, and a global perspective. With small class sizes and dedicated faculty members, Houghton offers a personalized education experience that fosters academic growth and deepens faith.

Beyond the classroom, Houghton University offers a vibrant campus life with numerous extracurricular activities, athletics, and service opportunities. Students can participate in over 30 student-led clubs and organizations, including music, theater, and ministry groups. The university's NCAA Division III athletic program allows students to compete in a variety of sports, further enhancing their college experience. Moreover, Houghton's commitment to service and missions encourages students to actively engage with their local and global communities, developing a heart for social justice and compassion. Overall, Houghton University provides a holistic educational environment that nurtures students' intellectual, personal, and spiritual growth.

Located in Houghton, NY and set in a rural environment, Houghton University is a private comprehensive higher education institution. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 88%. The freshman retention rate at Houghton University is 83% and the six-year graduation rate is 67%.

Here are some updated information on important things to consider about Houghton University.

Quick Facts

939

Total Number of Undergraduate Students

$19,866

Tuition

12:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

67%

Graduation Rate

Admissions

In order to maximize your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the university's criteria for admission. Here are the most essential data you need to know about admission at Houghton University.

According to the most recent data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 923 in 2025. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.

Test Scores

24% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 3% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 16% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 53% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 31% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 43, 57 between 24-29, 27.66 in the range between 18-23, and 10.64 between 12-17.

The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.63. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted.

Average Test Scores

Retention Rate

The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.

The freshman retention rate for Houghton University was 83% in 2025, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the educational experience at this institution.

Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 67%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.

Student Body

It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.

Main Student Body

In 2025, the institution enrolled 977 students.

The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 36% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 939, 53 of which were foreign students. The school reported to have a total of 29 transfer students.

Student Population Gender Ratio

The student body is coeducational, with 301 male and 434 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the importance this institution places on gender equality.

Student Population Diversity

In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. A diverse student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.

This school had 10 Asian students and 38 Afro-American students in 2025. 12 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 21 as multirace. The school also had 2 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 2 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 51 students whose ethnicity is unknown.

Cost

Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.

Tuition and Fees

Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Houghton University estimated tuition costs.

Tuition in 2025 was $19,866 for full-time domestic students. Since this is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Full-time students in 2025 were obliged to pay additional fees in the amount of $750.

Books and Supplies

When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. Most students have to spend about $1,250 for books and supplies during their time at Houghton University.

Boarding

When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What do schools typically charge for accommodation and meals?

The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Houghton University was $12,242 in 2025. If you only needed a room on the campus, it cost $6,334 for the 2025 academic year.

Tuition $ 19,866
Room and Board $ 12,242
Book and Supplies $ 1,250
Total Expense $ 33,358

Financial Aid

Obtaining some financial help in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be vital for completing your studies. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Houghton University, here are some recent data you should consider.

According to the most recent data, 153 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $18,924 in financial help.

Need-based

If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.

There were 485 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Houghton University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 517. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $1,384,241, and state $555,497.

$3,415

Average Amount of Aid Received

Non-Need Based

Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.

Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 430 students overall (including freshmen) at Houghton University in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 148 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $1,384,241 while the state aid is $12,962. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $1,164,198. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $552,156 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).

Majors

Faculty

12:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.

According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Houghton University was 12:1: that means 12 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. This school has recently reported to have 103 faculty members. This number included 45 male and 58 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Houghton University.

Student Population Diversity Graph

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100
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100

Campus Life

Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some information about social life at Houghton University.

It has a campus size of 1,300 acres.

Student Organizations

Involvement in student organizations can make your educational experience more dynamic and gratifying.

The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 42. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is ACCESS, followed by Catholics on Campus and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Other popular organizations at Houghton University are Salvation Army Student Fellowship and Ultimate Frisbee.

For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a talent for media and communication? Houghton University publishes its own newspaper.

Student Services

Houghton University has a number of services vital for a pleasant and safe life on campus.

There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Houghton University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.

Career Services

Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Houghton University.

Career Counselling

At Houghton University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.

FAQ

Houghton University is located in Houghton, NY.

Houghton University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.

The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Houghton University is 19,866 USD, based on the most recent data.

This school uses standardized test scores for admission.

According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Houghton University is 88%.

According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Houghton University is 83%.

Contact Information

Houghton University

One Willard Avenue

Houghton , NY

14744

585 567-9200

School Website

Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.

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