Houston

For UH, 2011 was a truly remarkable year, one filled with unparalleled recognition and reward…

“Higher expectations inspire people to work harder to achieve greater success year after year.”

–UH President and System Chancellor Renu Khator
  • The University of Houston generates $1.3 billion annually in the regional economy
  • Up to 80% of University of Houston graduates remain in the Houston area
  • University of Houston has been named one of the nation’s Best Colleges by The Princeton Review
  • University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One research university

As the University of Houston continues to make its mark in the annals of higher education, 2011 merits special attention. Our formidable undertaking to become a nationally recognized research university has been rewarded. UH’s designation as a Tier One institution brings with it an obligation to acknowledge not only the vision and hard work of those at UH, but also the steadfast encouragement and support of the city for which we are named. We are striving to become the great university that a great city deserves, to educate the enlightened leaders and to prepare the productive citizens that our community must have to prevail. We respectfully accept that responsibility, and what we share in this report is done so in the spirit of accountability. As Houston prospers in the energy industry, in the health care fields, in the arts and humanities, this university works diligently to reflect and reinforce such success. We are partners in progress. There is much to applaud in this report, but we do not seek such honors and awards for their own sake. They are signposts along the way as we travel toward overall excellence at the University of Houston. That journey continues.

…and the promise of even greater progress in our continuing journey to excellence.

Ambitious

The University of Houston’s Tier One status has a significant, direct impact on the economy, quality of life and future of Houston.

When Texas voters approved Proposition 4 in 2009, our journey to Tier One was confirmed as a state-level priority. Proposition 4 established the National Research University Fund (NRUF) allowing approximately $500 million in state higher education funds to be awarded to seven Emerging Research Universities as they meet required benchmarks. The University of Houston has met all of these benchmarks.

Our destination is to achieve full Tier One status in every ranking, including research, academics, student success and athletics.

Tier One: Past & Present
2007 2011
Undergrads Living on Campus
8%
13%
Average SAT
1055
1114
Freshman Acceptance Rate
77%
63%
Freshman Retention Rate
78%
81%
2007 2011
Six-Year Graduation Rate
43%
46%
Graduate Enrollment
20%
20%
PhD Degrees Awarded
196
239
Post PhD Appointees
111
185
2007 2011
Total Research Expenditures
$73.5M
$113.7M
National Academy Members
7
11
Annual Giving
$48.5M*
$75M
Endowment
$584M*
$590M
*After applying single campus discount per TARU. Single campus data reported after 2007.

Authentic

Challenges and achievements define our path.

The University of Houston is ranked among the top 50 research universities in the nation by Top American Research Universities (TARU). TARU raised its qualifying bar in 2008, and in the 2010 report UH accelerated progress by placing three measures in the Top 50. We are committed to even higher levels of excellence. Our goal is to place five of the nine measures in the Top 50 with one of those in the top 25.

“What we are doing now will give us the sustained excellence that we seek”

–UH President and System Chancellor Renu Khator

Our milestones mark a path of ever higher goals.

UH Performance on the Nine TARU Measures*
Performance UH Rank
Among
Publics
 
Total Research x $1000 $84,490 104
Federal Research x $1000 $43,162 110
Endowment Assets x $1000 $441,725 45 Three
Top 50
Annual Giving x $1000 $73,214 50
National Academy Members 8 41
Faculty Awards 1 179
Doctorates Granted 231 54 Two on
the Cusp
Postdoctoral Appointees 173 55
SAT/ACT Range 450–570/ 490–600 178

Entrepreneurs

More than 3,500 UH alumni head their own company or are presidents or CEOs.

“The only way to succeed in the future is to embrace a new business model – a model that rewards performance, promotes excellence, encourages innovation and diversifies revenue.”

–UH President and System Chancellor Renu Khator

We are accelerating our efforts to achieve in every area, while keeping our commitment to affordable higher education.

Competitive Resources: Total per FTE Student
UH Revenue from Technology Commercialization
Competitive Resources: Endowment / Giving Rates
Endowment
Total New Giving
Alumni Giving Rate

Relevant

University of Houston’s partnerships with Houston’s energy and health care leaders are changing the future.

The UH Energy Research Park (ERP) will house a consortium of UH engineers, scientists, business professors and students working with industry leaders to meet energy challenges of today and tomorrow. In 2011, ERP welcomed its first academic department, Petroleum Engineering, located in the newly-named ConocoPhillips Petroleum Engineering Building.

Number of Research Citations
[5-yr citation average]
2007 –
20,828
2011 –
26,738

Our research drives solutions to the world’s challenges.

The Petroleum Engineering program began in 2009 with 20 students and has grown tenfold with more than $12 million donated from industry and private sources. It is gaining national recognition for a curriculum designed by faculty and industry professionals.

Research Expenditures

Our partnership with the Texas Medical Center offers new training opportunities for students in health sciences. A dual degree program with the University of Texas-Houston School of Nursing reserves 25 percent of the seats in each entering nursing class for UH students.

Doctorates Awarded / Postdoctoral Appointees

Empowering

University of Houston awards more than 7,000 degrees annually…

The University of Houston is listed in The Princeton Review’s Best 376 Colleges: 2012 Edition for the first time. We have earned this national recognition by making student success our priority.

Student Success
2007 2011
Freshman Retention Rate 77% 81%
Graduation Rate (6 Year) 43% 46%
Percentage of Freshmen in top 20% of high school class 46% 55%
Freshmen Acceptance Rate 77% 65%
Average SAT 1055 1114
Enrollment 34,663 39,820

…advancing the professional workforce in Houston and Texas.


Statewide Housing Capacity

Diligent

UH’s designation as a Tier One institution acknowledges the vision and hard work of those at UH…

“Houston is a city that believes in the University of Houston.”

–UH President and System Chancellor Renu Khator

…and the steadfast encouragement and support of the city for which we are named.

In 2011, we were named as one of the “Great Colleges to Work For” by The Chronicle of Higher Education. Our stellar faculty includes a Fulbright Fellowship recipient, Pulitzer Prize winner, Nobel Prize laureate and Sloan Research Fellowship recipients.

  • Four academic programs are ranked in the “Top 10” and eight programs are ranked in the Top 50 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report
  • Top 10 ranked programs are the undergraduate Entrepreneurship program, Healthcare Law, Intellectual Property Law and part-time Law programs
  • Top 50 programs include Chemical Engineering, Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering, part-time MBA and Social Work
  • UH students volunteer nearly one million hours in the Houston community annually through internships and other course-related programs

2011

Jan
Tier One status, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
President Khator appointed to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas board of directors.
Feb
Mar
One of the best universities nationwide for undergraduates, The Princeton Review
Apr
Cosponsor with NASA, International Academy of Astronautics Humans in Space Symposium
May
UH places in Top 50 out of 600 nationwide, in 3 categories by TARU (Top American Research Universities)
Named one the nation’s greenest universities, second consecutive year, The Princeton Review
Jun
Jul
“Great Colleges to Work For,” The Chronicle of Higher Education
Aug
Sep
Top entrepreneurship program in the nation, Entrepreneur Magazine and The Princeton Review
Oct
Nov
ESPN features nationally ranked Cougars football team with a perfect 12-0 record
BCS (Bowl Championship Series) ranked football team
Dec
Accepted invitation to join Big East Conference

Inclusive

The University of Houston reflects the ambition and vitality of Houston…

Alumni Participation

UH is moving into the future with the help of increasingly engaged alumni who are proudly engaged with their alma mater. In 2011, 18,000 alumni contributed $8.4 million to the university, more than ever in our history.

…empowering the most promising and skilled among us to shine even brighter.

Powerful

The University of Houston is facing the challenges of today…

Established:
1927
President:
Renu Khator
Enrollment:
39,820
Ethnicity:
Caucasian (33%)
Hispanic (23.5%)
Asian (19%)
African-American (12%)
International (9%)
Faculty:
3,446
Staff:
3,574
Degree Programs:
304
Degrees Awarded Annually:
7,840
Alumni:
221,400
Annual Budget:
$1.01 billion
Research Expenditures:
$113.7 million
2011 Annual Tuition/Fees:
$7512 (resident undergrad)
$15,024 (non-resident undergrad)

…for the benefit of generations to come.