The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is joining forces with the Houston Independent School District (HISD) in support of the district’s mission to increase its number of graduates attending college. UHD will guarantee college admission to every eligible HISD senior through its groundbreaking Guaranteed Admission Program, the first of its kind for HISD and UHD.
HISD and UHD entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tuesday, Feb. 17, following a ceremonial MOU signing at UHD, creating opportunities for thousands of HISD seniors to attend college, graduate with a degree of value and pursue the career of their dreams.
To receive automatic admission to UHD, graduating HISD students need to meet the following eligibility criteria outlined in the agreement:
Maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher.
Complete any additional program-specific requirements, including but limited to standardized test scores (if applicable).
Submit an application for admission as notification of acceptance to attend UHD no later than the deadline posted on the UHD website. The application fee will be waived for Guaranteed Admission students.
“This partnership represents a transformational opportunity for our students, helping them see themselves as college-bound and their career goals reachable,” said HISD Superintendent Mike Miles. “Together, HISD and UHD are building a bridge from high school to higher education that will change lives across Houston and strengthen the regional economy by keeping Houston’s talent, creativity, and future leadership right here at home.”
UHD President Loren J. Blanchard said, “Our Guaranteed Admission Program is going to provide thousands of HISD seniors with accessibility to a four-year college degree. At UHD, we define student success as college-degree completion. Our graduates earn degrees of value, and success after graduation means they are not only prepared to enter the workforce but also to become the leaders in their professions and communities.”
“Beyond accessibility, we offer affordability and academic and basic needs support,” said Blanchard. “We have a multitude of scholarships available to our students. It is imperative that UHD provides the support for our students to be able to fuel Houston’s economy with the nurses, teachers, police officers, scientists and social workers needed by the city. That’s why this first-ever collaboration is so very important to Houston’s future, and we look forward to welcoming our first guaranteed admission program students to begin their higher education journey with us this fall for the 2026-27 academic year.”
HISD and UHD will collaborate to promote this opportunity to all seniors. The guaranteed admission process includes:
Students who meet the eligibility criteria at the beginning of their senior year, based on the data provided by HISD, will receive an offer for guaranteed admission to UHD, prior to applying. The offer will be in effect as long as students maintain the minimum required GPA and other admission requirements at the time of graduation.
Students must apply to UHD by the application deadline, posted on the UHD website, to formalize their acceptance under the Guaranteed Admission Program.
The decision to admit will be subject to the conditions mentioned and the availability of space in the desired program (if applicable).
Information on financial aid – as well as a list of numerous available scholarships to cover higher-educational costs – also will be shared with students and their parents or guardians. This information is available online.
For more information on the UHD/HISD Guaranteed Admission Program, visit uhd.edu/direct
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ABOUT HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Houston Independent School District is the largest school district in Texas and the eighth largest in the United States, with 276 schools and nearly 170,000 students. The 533-square-mile district is one of the largest employers in the Houston metropolitan area, with more than 27,000 employees.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON-DOWNTOWN
The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of three distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. UHD educates almost 14,000 students annually, boasts more than 73,500 alumni, and offers 47 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 23 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. A Military Friendly school, UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.
U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as No. 12 in Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs for Veterans and No. 21 in Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs (tie). The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings and No. 3 for student experience.
TheStockWatcher.com called UHD a “notable institution providing high-quality online MBA programs. UHD ensures that its graduates are well-prepared to succeed in their chosen career paths.” For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.
