The University of Houston (UH) is a state research university and the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, UH is the third-largest university in Texas with nearly 43,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of Houston–University Park from 1983 to 1991. The Carnegie Foundation classifies UH as a doctoral degree-granting institution with “highest research activity.” The U.S. News & World Report ranks the university No. 194 in its National University Rankings, and No. 103 among top public universities. UH is one of four public universities in Texas with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter.
The university offers more than 280 degree programs through its 14 academic colleges on campus—including programs leading to professional degrees in architecture, law, optometry, and pharmacy. The institution conducts $150 million annually in research, and operates more than 40 research centers and institutes on campus. Interdisciplinary research includes superconductivity, space commercialization and exploration, biomedical sciences and engineering, energy and natural resources, and artificial intelligence. Awarding more than 9,000 degrees annually, UH’s alumni base exceeds 260,000. The economic impact of the university contributes over $3 billion annually to the Texas economy, while generating about 24,000 jobs.
The university’s varsity athletic teams, known as the Houston Cougars, are members of the American Athletic Conference and compete in the NCAA Division I in all sports.
The University of Houston was ranked the 31st top college in the United States by Payscale and CollegeNet’s Social Mobility Index college rankings. The U.S. News & World Report ranks the university No. 194 in its National University Rankings, and No. 103 among top public universities. The Princeton Review has listed UH as one of America’s best colleges. The institution ranks in the Top 50 American Research Universities, and is among the Top 300 in the global Academic Ranking of World Universities.
The University of Houston Law Center was ranked 58th among the nation’s “Best Law Schools” in U.S. News & World Report in 2012. U.S. News & World Report ranked the C.T. Bauer College of Business as the top Undergraduate Business Program in Houston, third among public universities in the state of Texas, and 43rd in the nation among public universities. In 2002, the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management ranked third in the nation in hospitality management by the Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education.
The Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship at the C.T. Bauer College of Business is the No. 1 ranked undergraduate program for Entrepreneurship in the nation. The program has been ranked by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine as No. 1 for 2008, 2010, and 2011; and No. 2 in 2007 and 2009.