Marking a new era for one of Texas’ largest community college systems, Houston Community College has officially been renamed Houston City College.
On Tuesday, June 18, the college’s Board of Trustees voted 6 to 3 to approve a rebranding.
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In June 2024, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges approved HCC’s request to become a Level II institution. That accreditation status allows the college to offer baccalaureate degrees in addition to its associate degree programs.
With the ability to grant four-year degrees, HCC leaders say the new name helps signal growth and better position the college in the market. Other colleges across Texas have made similar moves to reflect expanded academic and workforce programs.
In response to its new Level II status, HCC launched a formal process in 2024 to consider whether a name change would better represent its future.
The initiative began with a public call for suggestions that resulted in more than 298 unique name submissions from students, staff, faculty, and the Houston community.
A Name Exploration Task Force made up of community leaders, business stakeholders, faculty, staff, and students reviewed the submissions and narrowed the list to three semifinalists: Houston College, City College of Houston, and Greater Houston College.
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HCC invited the public to participate through online submissions and community meetings. After several rounds of discussion, the task force selected a final name for the board’s approval.