About
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.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Pell and non-Pell students graduate at nearly identical rates, a notably small equity gap.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 133 Title IV programs, 18 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 4 fail. 111 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing18 · 13.5%
- No Data111 · 83.5%
- Failing4 · 3.0%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Near the line (±5%)
Programs within five points of the pass line, one cohort year from flipping.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Programmatic accreditations · 2
Action history · 20
- Sep 2025Grant Substantive Change: OtherSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
- Aug 2025Grant Substantive Change: OtherSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
- May 2025Grant Substantive Change: ProgramSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
- Jan 2025Grant Substantive Change: OtherSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
- Dec 2024Grant Substantive Change: OtherSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 26,687 students received $122.8M in Pell grants, alongside $65.8M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 8,466 borrowers who entered repayment, 114 (1.3%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Houston Community College
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus10
- Public property1
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
- Race1
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Houston Community College vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Houston Community College selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectHouston Community College | 17% | Open admission | 53,253 | $5,737 | Community College |
| — | Open admission | 39,727 | $6,390 | Baccalaureate | |
| — | Open admission | 19,342 | $4,621 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 6,839 | $7,863 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 20,123 | $4,976 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 17,840 | $4,266 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 25,567 | $3,206 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 21,483 | $3,861 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 73,077 | $11,252 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 14,611 | $10,261 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 17,077 | $12,132 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 18,835 | $8,027 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 56,457 | $9,919 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 16,283 | $3,405 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 21,730 | $8,377 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 19,901 | $4,585 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 31,812 | $12,143 | Community College | |
| — | Open admission | 43,928 | $4,337 | Community College | |
| Peer group median | 17% | — | 20,803 | $6,064 |
Institutions like Houston Community College
Explore the federal data for institutions in Houston Community College's comparison group.
- BaccalaureateTexas
Austin Community College District
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment39,727Net price$6,390View data - Community CollegeNew Mexico
Central New Mexico Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment19,342Net price$4,621View data - Community CollegeIllinois
City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment6,839Net price$7,863View data - Community CollegeNew York
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment20,123Net price$4,976View data - Community CollegeOhio
Cuyahoga Community College District
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment17,840Net price$4,266View data - Community CollegeTexas
El Paso Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment25,567Net price$3,206View data - Community CollegeFlorida
Hillsborough Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment21,483Net price$3,861View data - Community CollegeTexas
Lone Star College System
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment73,077Net price$11,252View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Los Angeles City College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment14,611Net price$10,261View data - Community CollegeArizona
Mesa Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment17,077Net price$12,132View data - Community CollegeMaryland
Montgomery College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment18,835Net price$8,027View data - Community CollegeVirginia
Northern Virginia Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment56,457Net price$9,919View data - Community CollegeArizona
Pima Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment16,283Net price$3,405View data - Community CollegeCalifornia
Riverside City College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment21,730Net price$8,377View data - Community CollegeTexas
San Antonio College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment19,901Net price$4,585View data - Community CollegeTexas
San Jacinto Community College
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment31,812Net price$12,143View data - Community CollegeTexas
Tarrant County College District
Grad rate—Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment43,928Net price$4,337View data
Houston Community College Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The HCC Office of Research, Analytics & Decision Support is responsible for the collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of accurate and timely information on all aspects of HCC in support of institutional decision-making, planning and reporting.
Visit IR office pageResearch funding
External research funding from NSF, NIH, HERD, and federal spending sources.
Common Data Set
Houston Community College's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.
Source publications
Reports & documents (7)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DashboardDashboardpublic.tableau.com
- Data definitionDefinitions | Houston City CollegeThis page from Houston City College provides definitions related to Title IX involving sex discrimination, sexual harassment, domestic violence, stalking, and dating violence. It details actions and behaviors considered as violations under these terms within an educational setting, highlighting issues of safety, consent, and treatment based on sex.hccs.edu
- Data dictionaryData dictionary2026The Institutional Data page provides key reports and resources about Houston City College, aiding transparency, planning, and decision-making for students, families, faculty, staff, and the community. It includes tools like the Academic Dashboard, HCC Fact Book, and more, managed by the Research, Analytics & Decision Support department.hccs.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- GlossaryHouston Community College Approved Budget GlossaryThis document outlines the Houston Community College (HCC) System's budget details for the Fiscal Year 2024, emphasizing key sections like Unrestricted and Restricted Budgets, Auxiliary Enterprises, and the Capital and Technology Plan. The budget development process focuses on strategic alignment to address evolving student needs, inflation, and institutional priorities while maintaining long-term fiscal sustainability. It describes significant changes in revenue sources including state appropriations, ad valorem taxes, and tuition fees. The glossary provides key terms related to the financial management and governance of the institution.hccs.edu
- GlossaryTextbook Savings Program GlossaryThe Textbook Savings Program Glossary from Houston City College outlines strategies to reduce course material costs through Zero Cost Books, Low-Cost Books, and First Day – Inclusive Access. The glossary defines key terms related to these initiatives, focusing on affordability and equity in providing educational resources.hccs.edu
- Strategic planStrategic Plan | Houston City College2026Houston City College's Strategic Plan aims to position the institution for future success through continuous updates and strategic enhancements. A key component is the Quality Enhancement Plan, which focuses on improving student success and completion rates over the next five years as part of the college's accreditation process. This plan is essential in supporting HCC’s mission, vision, and long-term strategic goals.hccs.edu
Grants & funding (1)
Federal grant awards and open funding opportunities awarded to this institution.
Frequently asked questions about Houston Community College
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Houston Community College.
What is the acceptance rate at Houston Community College?
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How many students attend Houston Community College?
What is the average net price at Houston Community College?
Where is Houston Community College located?
Who runs Institutional Research at Houston Community College?
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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