University of Houston facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
University of Houston

Seal of University of Houston
Other names	UH, U of H, or Houston
Former names	Houston Junior College (1927–1934) University of Houston–University Park (1983–1991)
Motto	In Tempore (Latin)
Motto in English	"In Time"
Type	Public research university
Established	March 7, 1927; 98 years ago (1927-03-07)
Founder	Edison E. Oberholtzer
Parent institution	University of Houston System
Accreditation	SACS
Academic affiliations	GCU ORAU URA USU
Endowment	$862.01 million (FY2024) (UH only) $1.11 billion (FY2024) (system-wide)
Budget	$1.54 billion (FY2025)
President	Renu Khator
Provost	Diane Z. Chase
Academic staff	3,468 (fall 2024)
Students	47,980 (fall 2024)
Undergraduates	38,673 (fall 2024)
Postgraduates	8,628 (fall 2023)
Other students	679 (fall 2024)
Location	Houston , Texas , United States 29°43′08″N 95°20′21″W / 29.7189°N 95.3392°W / 29.7189; -95.3392
Campus	Large city, 894 acres (362 hectares)
Other campuses	Sugar Land Katy
Newspaper	The Cougar
Colors	Scarlet Red      Albino White
Nickname	Cougars Coogs
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FBS – Big 12
Mascot	Shasta and Sasha

The University of Houston (often called UH or U of H) is a large public university in Houston, Texas. It started in 1927 as Houston Junior College. In 1934, it became a four-year university.

Today, UH is the fourth-largest university in Texas. It offers many different degree programs. The university has about 48,000 students. Its main campus is in southeast Houston and covers 894 acres. UH also has other learning locations in Sugar Land and Katy.

The University of Houston is known for its research. It spends about $240 million each year on research projects. These projects cover areas like space, energy, and artificial intelligence. The university has over 500 student clubs. It also has 17 sports teams called the Houston Cougars. They compete in the Big 12 Conference.

History of UH

How UH Started

The University of Houston began as Houston Junior College (HJC). On March 7, 1927, leaders from the Houston Independent School District created the college. HJC was run by the school district.

It first opened at San Jacinto High School. At first, it only offered night classes for future teachers. The first classes started on June 5, 1927. There were 232 students and 12 teachers. Later, high school students could also enroll.

Edison E. Oberholtzer was the first president of HJC. He was very important in starting the college.

Becoming a University

In October 1933, a new law allowed HJC to become a university. On September 11, 1933, the Houston Board of Education decided to make HJC a four-year school. They changed its name to the University of Houston. The official change happened on April 30, 1934.

UH started its first four-year classes on June 4, 1934. It had 682 students at San Jacinto High School. By the fall, there were 909 students and 39 teachers. They taught in three different colleges. The university moved to the Second Baptist Church in 1934. The next year, it moved to the South Main Baptist Church.

In 1936, land was given to the university for a permanent home. This land was 110 acres. In 1938, Hugh Roy Cullen donated money for the first building. The Roy G. Cullen Memorial Building opened on September 20, 1939. It was the first air-conditioned college building in the U.S.

By 1940, UH had over 2,000 students. During World War II, student numbers dropped. The university helped train radio technicians for the Navy. This training helped keep the university going.

In 1945, the University of Houston became a private university. It was no longer controlled by the school district. In 1947, a law school was created. By 1950, UH had 12 buildings and over 14,000 students. It became the second-largest university in Texas by 1951.

Joining the State System

In 1953, UH started KUHT, the first educational TV station in the country. As a private school, UH faced money problems. Tuition wasn't enough to cover costs. This led to the idea of UH becoming a state-funded university.

After much discussion, a law was passed on May 23, 1961. This allowed UH to join the state system in 1963. Around the 1960s, the university became open to all students. This was an important step for fairness.

In 1977, the University of Houston System was created. The University of Houston became the main and largest school in this system. It had almost 30,000 students. In 1983, the university's name was changed to University of Houston–University Park. But in 1991, it changed back to University of Houston. This was to avoid confusion with other UH System schools.

Modern Growth

In 1997, the leaders of the UH System and the University of Houston became one person. Arthur K. Smith was the first to hold both jobs. Since then, the main offices for the UH System have been on campus.

On October 15, 2007, Renu Khator was chosen for this dual role. She started in January 2008. In 2011, the University of Houston was recognized as a top research university. This means it does a lot of important research.

In 2022, the university added a new degree program. It is a Bachelor of Arts in Mexican American and Latino/a Applied Studies. This degree focuses on the experiences of the Latino community in the U.S.

In early 2025, the university worked to improve campus safety. They added more lighting and patrols. They also invested $18 million in security upgrades.

Campus Life and Buildings

Ezekiel W. Cullen Building

The University of Houston is in southeast Houston. Its campus covers 894 acres. Cullen Boulevard is a main road that goes through the campus. The university is part of the Third Ward area.

The campus has many green spaces, fountains, and sculptures. Famous architects like César Pelli and Philip Johnson designed some buildings. UH has also won awards for making its campus beautiful.

UH is the main school of the University of Houston System. It has other learning sites in Sugar Land and Katy. Other universities like University of Houston–Clear Lake (UHCL) are separate schools.

Campus Areas

The University of Houston campus has five main areas:

• The Central District
• The Arts District
• The Professional District
• The Residential District
• The Athletics District

The Central District is the academic heart of the university. It has the M.D. Anderson Library and colleges like Liberal Arts and Natural Sciences. Older buildings like the Roy G. Cullen Building are here. This area also has parks and green spaces.

The Arts District is in the northern part of campus. It's home to the School of Art, Moores School of Music, and School of Theatre and Dance. You can find theaters and music halls here.

The Professional District is in the northeast. It has the University of Houston Law Center, Cullen College of Engineering, and C.T. Bauer College of Business. This area also has housing for older students.

The Residential District is in the southern part of campus. This is where many student dorms are located. It also has the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership and the College of Optometry.

The Athletics District is in the northwest and west. It has sports training areas and stadiums. This includes TDECU Stadium for football and the Fertitta Center for basketball.

Campus Facilities

Lyndall Finley Wortham Theater

The university has an Energy Research Park. This park focuses on energy research. It covers 74 acres. The land was bought by the university in 2009.

The University of Houston Libraries system includes the M.D. Anderson Library. It also has smaller libraries for music, architecture, and health sciences.

The Cullen Performance Hall is a large theater with 1,612 seats. It hosts many events, including concerts and plays. The Blaffer Art Museum shows modern art from different artists and students.

Campus Recreation and Wellness Center

The Campus Recreation and Wellness Center is a huge building for sports and fitness. It has the largest college swimming pool in the country.

The LeRoy and Lucile Melcher Center for Public Broadcasting houses TV and radio stations. These include KUHT (PBS) and KUHF (NPR).

The Science and Engineering Complex (SEC) is a 200,000 square foot building. It was designed by architect César Pelli. It has facilities for many research programs.

The university has a Hilton hotel on campus. It is part of the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership. Students from this college help run the hotel.

UH also has a branch campus in Sugar Land. It has three buildings for university use. The Sugar Land campus also has a public library.

Academics at UH

M.D. Anderson Library is the general collection library of the university

The university offers over 310 different degree programs. This includes many doctoral degrees. In 2022, a new Bachelor of Arts degree was approved. It focuses on Mexican American and Latino/a studies. This is important because Houston has a large Hispanic/Latino population.

UH is one of only four public universities in Texas with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. This is a sign of high academic quality. Famous faculty members include Paul C. W. Chu, a National Medal of Science winner. Also, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Jody Williams has been associated with UH.

The Creative Writing Program is part of the College of Liberal Arts. It offers degrees in poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. The Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design is one of only 36 schools with a special accreditation.

Melcher Hall, one of three buildings of the Bauer College of Business

In 2016, the Hobby School of Public Affairs was created. It is named after former Texas Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby. This school offers degrees in public policy. In 2018, the College of Medicine was approved. Its first class of students started in 2020.

University Rankings

In 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked UH highly for social mobility. This means it helps students from all backgrounds succeed. The University of Houston Law Center was ranked 63rd in the nation. The undergraduate entrepreneurship program at the Bauer College of Business was ranked 9th. In other rankings, this program was even ranked 1st in the nation.

Research at UH

Houston Science Center

The Carnegie Foundation says UH is a top research university. It is one of only nine universities in Texas with this special classification.

In 2018, UH spent $177 million on research and development. This ranked it 123rd in the nation. The university has over 40 research centers. These centers work with government, healthcare, and private companies. They research areas like nanotechnology and artificial intelligence.

UH has five main research goals. These goals aim to help the economy and improve life. They include cyber security, drug discovery, and sustainable communities. In 2018, UH started a plan to increase its research by 50 percent in five years.

Student Life

The University of Houston has a very diverse student body. U.S. News & World Report ranks it as the second-most diverse research university in the U.S. Many students are from Asian and Hispanic backgrounds. Because of its large Hispanic student population, UH is a Hispanic-serving institution.

Arts and Entertainment

Cullen Performance Hall

The Blaffer Art Museum is in the Fine Arts Building. It shows art from new and famous artists. It also has programs for young artists.

The Cullen Performance Hall is a theater on campus. It hosts many events, like music concerts and plays.

The Moores School of Music holds concerts on campus. Students, teachers, and guest artists perform. They play everything from opera to jazz.

The School of Theatre and Dance puts on several plays each year. They perform classic and new shows.

The School of Art shows student art several times a year. They also have talks by visiting artists.

Student Housing

Cougar Village I

UH has several dorms and apartment-style buildings on campus. These include Moody Towers, The Quad, Cougar Village, and University Lofts.

Moody Towers are two tall buildings that house 1,100 students. They have a newly updated dining hall. The rooms in Moody Towers were updated in 2011.

The Quad is the newest dorm, finished in 2020. It has laundry rooms, a recreation area, and study spaces. The Quad and Townhouses together house almost 1,200 students.

Calhoun Lofts

University Lofts opened in 2009. It is for graduate students and has shops and recreation areas.

Cougar Village I & II opened in 2010 and 2013. These dorms are for first-year and Honors students. They have themed floors, study areas, and a fitness center.

Cougar Place was an apartment complex. It was rebuilt in 2020 for sophomore students. There are also private apartment complexes on campus: Cullen Oaks, Bayou Oaks, and Cambridge Oaks.

Student Media

The official student newspaper is The Cougar. It has been published since 1927. Students also create Houstonian magazine for graduating students. Cooglife is a monthly lifestyle magazine.

CoogTV is a student-run TV network. It can be seen on the university's cable network.

CoogRadio is UH's student-run college radio station. It started broadcasting on August 29, 2011.

University Traditions

Collegiate symbol and heritage mark

The official seal of the University of Houston was adopted in 1938. It is based on the coat-of-arms of General Sam Houston.

UH's official colors are scarlet red and albino white. These colors were used by Sam Houston's family. Scarlet red means courage, and white means goodness.

Cougar Red Friday is a tradition where students and staff wear red shirts. This shows their pride for the university.

Shasta VI at the Houston Zoo, 2011

The school's official mascot is a cougar named Shasta. The university used to have live female cougars. This tradition ended in 1989. In 2011, an orphaned cougar cub was adopted. He was named Shasta VI. Shasta VI passed away in August 2022. In November 2022, two new orphaned male cubs were adopted. They are named Shasta VII and Louie.

The Frontiersmen are a group of students who boost school spirit. At football games, they run across the field with flags after each score. They wear cowboy hats and duster coats.

The BLAZE is a special siren used by the Frontiersmen. It represents the university's connection to the oil industry. It was bought in 1991.

Frontier Fiesta is a big event each spring. It's like a re-creation of an old Western town. It has music, food, and historical exhibits. This student-led festival started in the 1940s. It became very famous and drew large crowds.

Cougar First Impressions is a program that welcomes new students. Faculty and staff greet students on the first two days of classes. Weeks of Welcome is another program that helps students learn about the university.

The Cougar Paw

Graphic representation of The Cougar Paw

The Cougar Paw is a hand sign used by University of Houston students and fans. It shows support for the university. This tradition started because of a football game.

In 1953, UH played the University of Texas. Shasta I, the university's mascot, had her paw injured. Some Texas players made fun of UH players by bending their ring finger. This was to show Shasta's missing toe. UH students then started using this bent-finger sign. It became a reminder of their pride.

The teams played again in 1968, and the game was a tie. In 1976, UH beat Texas 30–0. This win made the Cougar Paw a strong tradition.

Athletics

TDECU Stadium, home of the Houston Cougars football team

UH has 17 sports teams. They are part of the Big 12 Conference. Before 2013, UH was in the Conference USA. They won 33 titles in that conference.

Over the years, UH has achieved many sports successes. The men's golf team has won 16 national titles. The men's basketball team has reached the Final Four six times. More than 75 Olympic athletes have attended UH. They have won 41 medals, including 20 gold.

UH also has many recreational sports clubs. These include rugby, soccer, tennis, and gymnastics. The university offers many intramural sports programs for students.

Varsity Sports Teams

Schroeder Park, home of the Houston Cougars baseball team

The university's sports teams compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). UH has teams for baseball, basketball, football, golf, and track and field for men. For women, there are teams for basketball, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, and track and field.

The Houston Cougars football team has played in 27 post-season bowl games. They have won several conference championships. Andre Ware, a Heisman Trophy winner, played for the Cougars in 1989.

The men's basketball team has been in the NCAA Tournament 23 times. They reached the Final Four six times. Famous players like Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon played for UH.

Other successful teams include the baseball team, which has been to the College World Series twice. The men's golf team has won 16 NCAA National Championships. The track and field team is often ranked in the top 10 nationally.

Notable People

• Notable University of Houston alumni include:
• 

  Fred Couples, professional golfer

• 

  Clyde Drexler, Basketball Hall of Fame member

• 

  Bonnie J. Dunbar, former NASA astronaut

• 

  Elvin Hayes, 12-time NBA All-Star

• 

  Lizzo, Grammy Award-winning singer

• 

  Case Keenum, NFL Quarterback

• 

  Hakeem Olajuwon, 1994 NBA MVP

• 

  Jim Parsons, Emmy Award-winning actor

• 

  Wade Phillips, NFL Coach

• 

  Jack Valenti, former president of the Motion Picture Association

• 

  Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts

Many famous people have attended the University of Houston. Jack Valenti, who created the MPAA film rating system, earned his degree from UH. Artist and filmmaker Julian Schnabel also went to UH.

Authors like Alice Sebold (known for The Lovely Bones) and Matt Mullenweg, who created WordPress, are alumni.

Many athletes have come from UH. These include NFL players like Andre Ware (Heisman Trophy winner) and Case Keenum. Baseball stars include Doug Drabek. Golfers like Fred Couples and Steve Elkington are also alumni. Track and field legends Carl Lewis and Leroy Burrell attended UH. NBA basketball players include Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, and Elvin Hayes. Wade Phillips, a former NFL coach, also graduated from UH.

Several politicians have studied at UH. These include U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett.

Other notable alumni include Crystle Stewart (Miss USA 2008). Actors like Jim Parsons (from The Big Bang Theory), Brent Spiner (from Star Trek: The Next Generation), and Dennis Quaid attended UH. Comedian Bill Hicks and singer Lizzo are also alumni. Country music stars Larry Gatlin and Kenny Rogers also went to UH.

See also

In Spanish: Universidad de Houston para niños