Houston Daily

The University of Houston has introduced a new pilot program, UH Next, aimed at simplifying the transfer process for students from participating community colleges in the Houston area. The initiative is intended to help students who are working toward associate degrees move efficiently into bachelor’s degree programs at UH.

UH Next will launch in spring 2026 within the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS), supported by a $378,000 grant from the Greater Texas Foundation. The program is expected to serve as a model for future expansion across other colleges at the university.

According to Todd Romero, associate dean of undergraduate studies in CLASS, “Our goal is to increase college access, speed the time to bachelor’s degree completion and prepare more Texas students for the job market.”

The partnership involves five community college systems: Alvin Community College, College of the Mainland, Houston City College (formerly Houston Community College), San Jacinto College, and Wharton County Junior College. Each institution has signed a memorandum of understanding with UH to participate in this initiative.

Advisors from both UH and the partner colleges will work together to guide students through transfer requirements and align coursework. The program also features detailed four-year degree maps designed by advisors from both institutions to minimize credit loss during transfers and keep students on track for graduation.

Rachel Poling, director of the UH Next Program, said that providing ongoing support throughout students’ college careers would foster a positive experience for transfer students.

UH Next builds on existing efforts by UH to improve affordability and access. Starting at a community college before transferring can lower the total cost of earning a four-year degree. Other initiatives include scholarship opportunities and tuition support programs such as Cougar Promise.

The University of Houston was recently ranked No. 42 among public universities in The Princeton Review’s “Best Value Colleges” for 2025 due to its academic strength, affordability, and graduate career prospects (https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings/best-value-colleges). Additionally, UH received recognition in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications as one of only 21 institutions with both “Very High Research Activity” and “Higher Access, Higher Earnings” designations (https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/). U.S. News & World Report also ranked UH among the top 50 public universities for social mobility in September (https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/social-mobility-public).

Romero commented on these challenges: “Many families struggle to figure out how to pay for college, and we know that college degrees are incredibly important to earning high salaries and entering into in-demand fields.”

CLASS is currently the largest college at UH with over 11,000 students enrolled across more than 40 degree programs spanning humanities, social sciences, allied health, and interdisciplinary areas.

Poling added: “We have such a large variety of majors that you can really get to any career with a CLASS degree. Our degrees really teach students those transferable skills that are always going to be valuable in the workplace.”

Students interested in joining UH Next can apply through the program’s website.