Houston Community College
A good fit for families who need the lowest possible cost and students who want a major research university experience. graduation rate is below 25% — most students don't finish here. a public school with 37,970 students.
About This School
Houston Community College is a public institution located in Houston, Texas with approximately 37,970 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $6,738 per year. The graduation rate is 17%, and the typical graduate earns $39,300 within 10 years of enrollment.
Houston City College (HCC), also known as the Houston City College System (HCCS), is a public community college system that operates community colleges in Houston, Missouri City, Greater Katy, and Stafford in U.S. state of Texas. Founded in 1971 as Houston Community College, it is notable for actively recruiting internationally and for the large number of international students enrolled, over 5,700 in 2015. Its open enrollment policies, which do not require proficiency in English, are backed by a full-time 18-month English proficiency program and remedial courses.
At just $6,738 per year after aid, this is one of the most affordable pathways into higher education in the Houston area, making it a solid option for students who need to keep costs low while working or managing other responsibilities. That said, the 17% graduation rate is a serious red flag — most students who enroll do not finish — so you'll want to go in with a clear plan, a specific program in mind, and ideally a connection to an advisor early on. The median earnings of $39,300 a decade out are modest, but the low debt at graduation ($8,752) means you won't be buried in loans if you do complete your credential.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 16% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Houston Community College graduates earn most above the national rate in Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($58,451 vs $37,656 nationally), and most below it in Culinary Arts and Related Services ($27,150 vs $39,605).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 1,775 | $48,944 | $44,125 | +$4,819 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 864 | $52,985 | $48,733 | +$4,252 |
| Biology, General | 582 | $58,846 | $44,758 | +$14,088 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 153 | $89,002 | $80,813 | +$8,189 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 152 | $58,451 | $37,656 | +$20,795 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | 89 | $62,339 | $54,971 | +$7,368 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 75 | $80,188 | $65,389 | +$14,799 |
| Engineering Science | 65 | $80,602 | $75,098 | +$5,504 |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | 52 | $27,150 | $39,605 | −$12,455 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | 46 | $52,208 | $42,269 | +$9,939 |
| Graphic Communications | 44 | $34,557 | $36,221 | −$1,664 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 41 | $46,694 | $47,660 | −$966 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing an associate's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (37,970 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in Texas
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Lone Star College System
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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
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Austin Community College District
Austin, TX · Public
University of Houston
Houston, TX · Public
See How Colleges Compare
Houston Community College is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Houston Community College cost?
The average net price at Houston Community College is about $6,738 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Houston Community College?
Houston Community College has a graduation rate of 17%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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