Houghton University

Private · Moderately Selective · NY

Photo: JacksonJeep (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationNY · Northeast

SettingRural

Undergrads753

Student:faculty12:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate54.8%

6-yr grad rate65.2%

Drop-out rate16%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$18k

Out-of-state tuition$18k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity24.4%

Gender diversity59.8%

International7%

IdentityWesleyan

Overview

Houghton University is a Christian liberal-arts university in a rural part of western New York, affiliated with the Wesleyan Church. It maintains a close, faith-centered residential community built around a small student body in an isolated, rural setting.

Academics

Music is a signature strength through the Greatbatch School of Music, which trains classically oriented musicians with resources unusual for a college this size. The sciences also have a solid record for pre-health and pre-professional preparation, and the university runs an equestrian program that draws students specifically for that reason.

Campus & student life

The rural western New York setting is remote, and the campus functions as the center of most student activity. Faith practice - chapel, service, and Wesleyan traditions - is a visible, regular part of campus rhythm rather than a background feature.

Worth knowing

The equestrian program and the Greatbatch School of Music are the two features most likely to specifically draw a student to Houghton over a similarly sized Christian college; students uninterested in either should weigh the isolated location carefully.

houghton.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate88.7%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1170–1375 · ACT 26–31

Test policyoptional

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying