Data Capacity-Building and Monitoring of the Postsecondary Success Portfolio

Community college access in the United States has significantly increased enrollment opportunities; however, this progress has not been matched by improvements in student retention and completion rates. Despite community colleges' critical role in providing affordable and flexible education pathways, only about 32% of students who enroll in a two-year institution complete a degree or certificate within three years (National Center for Education Statistics[NCES], 2022). Students who enroll in programs but do not complete them may be left in a worse financial position than when they entered. Houston’s college completion rates mirror the nation’s completion with 37% of the 2014-2016 high school graduates who entered a community college completing a credential (Texas Higher Education Data [THECB], 2014-2016).

Houston Endowment’s vision is for every student in Greater Houston to have access to an education that leads to economic mobility and an opportunity-rich life. This vision is reinforced by Texas House Bill 8, which has transitioned the criteria for community college funding from an enrollment-based model to a formula that is based on certificate and degree completions, transfer outcomes, and credentials awarded in high-wage, high-demand fields. Together, these efforts recognize that increasing access to postsecondary education is not enough; institutions must also ensure that students successfully complete credentials of value and transition into opportunities that support long-term economic mobility and regional prosperity.

In response to both Houston Endowment’s commitment to economic mobility and the opportunities created by House Bill 8, Houston Endowment has developed a grant opportunity for the nine member colleges of the Gulf Coast Community College Consortium (GCCCC) to accelerate student success across the region’s community colleges. The grants support institution-specific initiatives aimed at increasing credential completion, strengthening transfer pathways, and improving outcomes in high-wage, high-demand fields that contribute to long-term student success and regional prosperity. The GCCCC is comprised of the following colleges that service the Greater Houston area: Alvin Community College; Brazosport College; College of the Mainland; Galveston College; Houston City College; Lee College; Lone Star College; San Jacinto College; and Wharton County Junior College.

Interested organizations are invited to attend a virtual Q&A session on Thursday, July 9, 2026, from 3–4 p.m. CT to learn more about the project and the Letter of Intent process. Participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance and will also have an opportunity to ask questions during the session, time permitting. You may also send questions to sjones@houstonendowment.org.