Established in 1974, the University of Houston-Clear Lake provides educational opportunities to students in the Houston-Galveston area and beyond through upper-level undergraduate and graduate programs (including one doctoral program).  Located adjacent to the NASA Johnson Space Center, UH-Clear Lake is situated in the heart of the area's high-technology community.

In 2011, UHCL received approval from the Texas Legislature for downward expansion, which authorizes the upper-level university to add freshman- and sophomore-level courses to its roster.  Current plans target fall 2014 as the first semester UHCL will offer the new programming.

UHCL lives up to its reputation as a community-minded, partnership-oriented university and was recognized for its community engagement programs by earning a spot on the 2009 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll - the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement. The university also gained recognition with its selection for The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching's 2008 Community Engagement Classification in the combined Curricular Engagement Outreach and Partnerships category.

UHCL is committed to supporting the region's various commercial, engineering, human services and trade sectors, especially in the computing, medical, petrochemical and aerospace industries. The university's numerous institutes and centers, including the Environmental Institute of Houston, Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, Center for Educational Programs, Psychological Services Clinic and Center for Advanced Management Programs, help fulfill these needs.

In addition to being recognized for its community service, UHCL's distinctions include its designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. Additionally, Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education Magazine ranked UHCL among the Top 100 institutions for Hispanics based on number of degrees awarded. UHCL was also listed as one of the top 40 master's institutions in the United States for international student enrollment in the Institute of International Education's Open Doors 2009 Report on International Educational Exchange.  GetEducated.com named UHCL's online MBA program as one of its top ten best buys in The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business Accredited Online MBAs for 2010.  UHCL's School of Education was named the sole recipient of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities' 2009 Christa McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Teacher Education.

President William A. Staples leads UHCL, which assists more than 8,000 students and approximately 54,000 alumni to reach their educational goals.

Undergraduate Education

UHCL offers bachelor's degrees in 39 fields of study to junior- and senior-level students through its four schools, including the Schools of Business, Education, Human Sciences and Humanities, and Science and Computer Engineering. Admission to UHCL requires an associate's degree from a community college or completion of at least 54 semester credit hours with a minimum GPA of 2.0. Among the degree programs are two added in 2009 - the Bachelor of Applied Science, with tracks in early childhood education, healthcare services and information technology, and the Bachelor of Science in Physics.

Graduate Education and Research

With 45 master's degree programs, including a unique Master of Arts in Behavioral Analysis, area professionals can strengthen their skill set and complement their undergraduate education at UHCL. In addition to traditional classes, UHCL offers master's degree programs online in business administration, engineering management, finance, human resource management, instructional technology and software engineering. The university's Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership prepares local educational leaders to become administrators. UHCL generated more than $1.3 million in research expenditures during FY2012.

UH-Clear Lake Pearland Campus

UHCL Pearland Campus welcomed more than 730 students in fall 2012. The 30,659-square-foot modern facility is shared with Pearland Economic Development Corporation, which occupies 8,043 square feet. Along with high-quality academics, UHCL's satellite campus stays true to the mission of a community-minded, partnership-oriented university through participation in organizations such as the Pearland Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Brazoria County Education Alliance.