UH-Clear Lake improves ranking among regional universities

September 22, 2016 | Kelsie Cleboski

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University of Houston-Clear Lake has advanced seven places on the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, marking upward movement in only its second year to be considered for the regional ranking.

Tied for 74th among the 2017 Best Regional Universities in the West, UH-Clear Lake is listed among universities in the western United States. Universities included in the ranking range from Texas and Oklahoma westward to California and Hawaii.

“As a student-centered, partnership-oriented and community-minded university, we’re proud to be a part of this list and to continue our movement upward on it,” said UHCL President William A. Staples. “We constantly strive to improve educational opportunities at UH-Clear Lake, and that mission will become even more vital in the coming years.”

UHCL debuted on the 2016 Best Regional Universities in the West at 81st on the list after its first full year as a four-year institution, though individual programs had been recognized in the past. UHCL’s College of Business was also recognized in the publication’s 2016 Best Online Business Graduate Programs (non-MBA) and 2016 Best Online MBA Programs rankings at 61st and 81st, respectively.

Interim Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Glen Houston said the ranking reflects the continued growth of the university.

“It’s gratifying to be recognized for the growth of our services and academic programs, and even more gratifying to see that growth lead to success for our students and alumni,” he said

He and Staples also recognized the impact of former Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Carl A. Stockton, who departed UHCL in June to take a position as chancellor of Auburn University at Montgomery.

For the regional rankings, U.S. News & World Report compares universities that offer a full range of undergraduate and master’s degree programs and a limited number of doctoral programs. UHCL’s academic offerings include more than 40 bachelor’s degrees, 45 master’s degrees and three doctoral programs.

Universities on the list are scored based on a number of criteria, including retention and graduation rates, faculty resources, student selectivity and alumni giving. In a discussion of methodology, however, U.S. News & World Report data scientists Robert Morse and Eric Brooks recognized that the data used to determine the rankings only capture part of the overall picture.

“Yes, many factors other than those spotlighted here will figure in your decision, including location and the feel of campus life; the range of academic offerings, activities and sports; and the cost plus the availability of financial aid,” the analysts wrote, “But if you combine the information in this book with campus visits, interviews and your own intuition, our rankings can be a powerful tool in your quest for the best fit.”

Admissions events planned at the university throughout the fall can help prospective students get a clear sense of UHCL and all it has to offer.

The university became eligible for inclusion on the U.S. News & World Report rankings after expanding to a four-year university in 2014, accepting freshman and sophomore students for the first time.

Other planned growth includes the addition of a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math or STEM and Classroom Building and a Recreation and Wellness Center at UHCL and a Health Sciences and Classroom Building at UHCL Pearland Campus. All three buildings are expected to open in 2018.

To learn more about the university, visit www.uhcl.edu.