MS at University of Houston Clear Lake, Houston — Cost, Community & Job Market Guide for Indian Students (2026)
Quick answer
University of Houston Clear Lake is a public university in Clear Lake City, Houston, Texas, part of the Greater Houston region. Cheap Houston option with NASA-area employers. Tuition: General graduate non-resident cost of attendance (tuition + fees combined, based on 18 credit hours/year): $19,211 (AY2026-27) — general estimate, not a clean per-credit-hour figure and not confirmed CS-specific. (Source: UHCL's official "STEM Programs" page (International Student Services), which explicitly lists Computer Science under College of Science and Engineering STEM-designated programs with CIP Code 11.0701; tuition from UHCL's official costs-aid page, verified August 2026.)
Quick facts
- University of Houston Clear Lake is located in Clear Lake City, Houston, Texas.
- School type: Public. Cost tier (relative to this dataset): Low.
- Nearest metro: Greater Houston.
- Tuition: General graduate non-resident cost of attendance (tuition + fees combined, based on 18 credit hours/year): $19,211 (AY2026-27) — general estimate, not a clean per-credit-hour figure and not confirmed CS-specific. (Source: UHCL's official "STEM Programs" page (International Student Services), which explicitly lists Computer Science under College of Science and Engineering STEM-designated programs with CIP Code 11.0701; tuition from UHCL's official costs-aid page, verified August 2026.)
- Program duration is not stated here — confirm with the department [VERIFY: duration].
- Intake cycle: International deadlines: Fall apply by June 1 (documents June 15); Spring apply by October 1 (documents October 15); Summer apply by April 1 (documents April 15). (Source: UHCL's official "STEM Programs" page (International Student Services), which explicitly lists Computer Science under College of Science and Engineering STEM-designated programs with CIP Code 11.0701; tuition from UHCL's official costs-aid page, verified August 2026.)
- STEM-OPT: this program is reported as STEM-designated. (Source: UHCL's official "STEM Programs" page (International Student Services), which explicitly lists Computer Science under College of Science and Engineering STEM-designated programs with CIP Code 11.0701; tuition from UHCL's official costs-aid page, verified August 2026.) Confirm current status directly, as this can change.
What is University of Houston Clear Lake known for among Indian applicants?
Cheap Houston option with NASA-area employers. This is a starting-point observation from aggregate application patterns, not a guarantee of admission or outcome for any individual applicant [VERIFY: current admissions data].
What does the total cost at University of Houston Clear Lake actually look like?
As of August 2026, University of Houston Clear Lake's tuition is General graduate non-resident cost of attendance (tuition + fees combined, based on 18 credit hours/year): $19,211 (AY2026-27) — general estimate, not a clean per-credit-hour figure and not confirmed CS-specific. (Source: UHCL's official "STEM Programs" page (International Student Services), which explicitly lists Computer Science under College of Science and Engineering STEM-designated programs with CIP Code 11.0701; tuition from UHCL's official costs-aid page, verified August 2026.) Note: Program duration (total credit hours) could not be confirmed — the official program catalog page did not load during this research pass. This is one figure from one point in time — tuition changes year to year, so confirm the current rate directly before budgeting around it. Total cost means tuition plus living expenses plus travel, not tuition alone — a lower sticker price in a higher cost-of-living metro can still add up to more than a higher sticker price in a cheaper town. Convert every number to INR at the exchange rate on the day you check, not a rate quoted in an old blog post.
Is the MS program at University of Houston Clear Lake STEM-OPT eligible?
As of August 2026, this program is reported as STEM-designated, per UHCL's official "STEM Programs" page (International Student Services), which explicitly lists Computer Science under College of Science and Engineering STEM-designated programs with CIP Code 11.0701; tuition from UHCL's official costs-aid page. STEM-OPT eligibility is set at the individual program level by its CIP code and can change, so confirm current status directly with University of Houston Clear Lake's international student office before relying on it for visa planning.
Is there a job market near University of Houston Clear Lake?
Greater Houston is the nearest metro to University of Houston Clear Lake. Many graduates from smaller-metro campuses relocate for their first job after OPT begins — plan your job search around where the roles actually are, not only where you studied. [VERIFY: typical relocation pattern for this program]
What is daily life like for an Indian student at University of Houston Clear Lake?
Specific details on the local Indian community, grocery access, and transport options near Clear Lake City are not compiled here [VERIFY: confirm with current students or the school's international student association before you commit]. Most campuses run an official Indian Students Association or similar group — check the school's student organizations directory directly.
| Field | Status | Where to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | General graduate non-resident cost of attendance (tuition + fees combined, based on 18 credit hours/year): $19,211 (AY2026-27) — general estimate, not a clean per-credit-hour figure and not confirmed CS-specific (as of August 2026) | UHCL's official "STEM Programs" page (International Student Services), which explicitly lists Computer Science under College of Science and Engineering STEM-designated programs with CIP Code 11.0701; tuition from UHCL's official costs-aid page |
| Program duration | [VERIFY] | UHCL's official "STEM Programs" page (International Student Services), which explicitly lists Computer Science under College of Science and Engineering STEM-designated programs with CIP Code 11.0701; tuition from UHCL's official costs-aid page |
| School type / cost tier | Public / Low | This dataset (relative ranking, not a dollar figure) |
| Nearest metro | Greater Houston | — |
| STEM-OPT / CIP code | STEM-designated (reported) — confirm directly | UHCL's official "STEM Programs" page (International Student Services), which explicitly lists Computer Science under College of Science and Engineering STEM-designated programs with CIP Code 11.0701; tuition from UHCL's official costs-aid page |
| Intake cycle / deadlines | International deadlines: Fall apply by June 1 (documents June 15); Spring apply by October 1 (documents October 15); Summer apply by April 1 (documents April 15) | UHCL's official "STEM Programs" page (International Student Services), which explicitly lists Computer Science under College of Science and Engineering STEM-designated programs with CIP Code 11.0701; tuition from UHCL's official costs-aid page |
A program that fits your specific budget and job-market plan beats a program with a familiar name and a vague plan.
Building your MS timeline around a skills gap you'll need to close before OPT starts? See how a focused, project-based track fits alongside your degree.
Explore for international studentsRelated reading: this city's guide, this state's guide.
Frequently asked questions
Will I regret choosing University of Houston Clear Lake over a bigger-name school?
Depends what you're optimizing for. If it's total cost and a realistic path to a job in Greater Houston, a less-famous name is not automatically a worse choice — regret usually comes from an unclear budget or job-market plan, not the school's name recognition.
What is the tuition at University of Houston Clear Lake?
As of August 2026, General graduate non-resident cost of attendance (tuition + fees combined, based on 18 credit hours/year): $19,211 (AY2026-27) — general estimate, not a clean per-credit-hour figure and not confirmed CS-specific, per UHCL's official "STEM Programs" page (International Student Services), which explicitly lists Computer Science under College of Science and Engineering STEM-designated programs with CIP Code 11.0701; tuition from UHCL's official costs-aid page. Confirm the current figure directly before budgeting, since tuition changes year to year.
Is University of Houston Clear Lake a good option for an Indian MS applicant?
Depends on your budget, target job market, and risk tolerance — not university ranking. Compare total cost and the Greater Houston job market against your own priorities.
Is the MS program at University of Houston Clear Lake STEM-OPT eligible?
As of August 2026, reported as STEM-designated, per UHCL's official "STEM Programs" page (International Student Services), which explicitly lists Computer Science under College of Science and Engineering STEM-designated programs with CIP Code 11.0701; tuition from UHCL's official costs-aid page. Confirm current status directly, as CIP-code designations can change.
What is the nearest big city to University of Houston Clear Lake?
Greater Houston. Many graduates relocate there after OPT begins if the campus town itself has limited tech hiring. [VERIFY: typical pattern for this program]
Is there an Indian community near University of Houston Clear Lake in Houston?
Not compiled here in detail. Confirm with current students or the school's international student association. [VERIFY]
When can I apply to University of Houston Clear Lake?
As of August 2026, reported intake: International deadlines: Fall apply by June 1 (documents June 15); Spring apply by October 1 (documents October 15); Summer apply by April 1 (documents April 15), per UHCL's official "STEM Programs" page (International Student Services), which explicitly lists Computer Science under College of Science and Engineering STEM-designated programs with CIP Code 11.0701; tuition from UHCL's official costs-aid page. Deadlines shift year to year, so confirm the current cycle directly.
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