Big campus,
real transfer numbers in Houston
You're deciding whether to spend your first two years at Houston Community College before finishing a bachelor's degree somewhere in Texas. That choice comes down to real numbers: transfer rates, earnings after graduation, what it costs out of pocket, and whether HCC's scale works for or against you.
53,000+ undergrads, 35% transfer out by year 8, median $39k 10-yr earnings, $13,921 median debt.
One of Texas's largest CCs with a 35% transfer-out rate and low debt
Houston Community College enrolls 53,253 undergraduates — one of the biggest community colleges in the country. Thirty-five percent of students transfer to a four-year institution within eight years, well above typical CC norms. Median earnings land at $39k ten years out, and median debt is $13,921 — modest given the scale. General Studies (1,623 completions), Business Administration (905), and Biology (626) anchor the transfer-prep pipeline. In-district tuition is $792 and net price averages $5,737. The 0% three-year loan default rate is a clean signal. For Houston-area students watching their budget, HCC's combination of scale, transfer momentum, and low default risk is hard to ignore.
Houston Community College is a massive institution — 53,253 undergraduates spread across a multi-campus network in Houston, Texas, making it one of the largest community colleges in the United States. Nearly 68% of students attend part-time, so the population here is mostly working adults and students balancing outside obligations. The top program by completions is General Studies at 1,623, followed by Business Administration and Management at 905 and Biology at 626 — fields with clear transfer-prep applications for students heading toward a four-year degree. The eight-year transfer-out rate is 35%, a strong result for any community college. Median earnings ten years out are $39k, median debt is $13,921, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. In-district tuition is $792; net price averages $5,737. For a Houston-area student who wants to cut first-year costs and still move toward a bachelor's, the data here is genuinely encouraging.
What this CC teaches at scale
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| General Studies. | 1,623 |
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 905 |
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General. | 626 |
| Welding Technology/Welder. | 221 |
| Psychology, General. | 183 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications. | 159 |
| Prepress/Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design. | 150 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. | 125 |
| Teacher Education, Multiple Levels. | 123 |
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. | 117 |
Source · IPEDS completions (all undergraduate credentials).
Where Texas transfers tend to go
Reflects state-aggregated IPEDS transfer-in volume — CC-specific destinations are not publicly available from IPEDS or the College Scorecard.
Frequently asked
- Is Houston Community College a good place to start a bachelor's degree?
- The transfer numbers support it. Thirty-five percent of HCC students transfer to a four-year institution within eight years — a meaningful result, especially given that 68% of students attend part-time, which typically drags transfer rates down. In-district tuition is $792 and net price averages $5,737, so the cost case is strong for Houston-area residents. Median debt for HCC borrowers is $13,921, which is manageable relative to what four-year institutions charge. Median earnings ten years out are $39k, and the three-year loan default rate is 0%. The combination of low entry cost, above-average transfer rate, and clean debt profile makes HCC a credible starting point — provided you arrive with a transfer plan and the discipline to execute it at a large, mostly part-time campus.
- How does Houston Community College's transfer-out rate compare to typical community colleges?
- HCC's eight-year transfer-out rate is 35%. National research consistently places the average community college transfer rate in the 15–25% range, so HCC's figure sits well above that benchmark. That's notable because 68% of HCC's students attend part-time — a profile that typically suppresses transfer rates, since part-time students take longer and face more friction completing the coursework needed to qualify for transfer. An additional 2% of students were still enrolled at the eight-year mark, and 23% had completed a credential at HCC itself. The 35% transfer-out figure, achieved despite that largely part-time population, suggests HCC functions as a genuine four-year feeder, not just a retention holding pattern.
- What programs does Houston Community College offer at meaningful scale?
- HCC's highest-volume programs by completions are General Studies (1,623), Business Administration and Management (905), and Biology/Biological Sciences (626). Welding Technology produced 221 completions, Psychology 183, Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications 159, Prepress/Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design 150, Health Sciences 125, Teacher Education 123, and Registered Nursing 117. The breadth matters: students targeting STEM transfer paths, business degrees, health-related fields, or technical trades all have options with enough volume to support real advising infrastructure and consistent course availability. The General Studies and Biology numbers in particular signal a well-worn path for students planning to complete a pre-transfer curriculum before moving to a four-year institution.
Methodology — Transfer signals reflect IPEDS Outcome Measures 8-year cohorts; earnings and debt come from the College Scorecard. Destinations are state-aggregated; we do not claim CC-specific transfer destinations without authoritative per-student tracking data.