HOUSTON, April 30, 2025 — Houston Christian University (HCU) announced today its designations in the prestigious 2025 Carnegie Classifications, highlighting the University’s commitment to academic excellence and student success.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, widely recognized as the leading framework for categorizing U.S. colleges and universities, has placed HCU in select categories that underscore its distinctive educational mission and outcomes.
Elite Institutional Classification
HCU has been designated as a Professions-Focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Medium institution, joining an exclusive group that represents only 3 percent of all U.S. colleges and universities.
“As a Professions-Focused institution, the majority of our degrees are awarded in fields that are considered pre-professional or career-aligned, including business, nursing, education, behavioral sciences, engineering and science. At HCU, all of these degrees are based on a strong foundation of liberal arts and humanities,” said HCU President Robert B. Sloan. “As a medium-sized institution, we have well over 4,000 students, with a strategic plan to grow to 10,000 students within the next 5 years.”
The institutional classification is based on comprehensive data reported to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) over the 2020-23 academic years and evaluates institutions based on degree types, subject areas and institutional size.
Student Access and Earnings Recognition
In the newly introduced Student Access and Earnings Classification, HCU received the designation of Higher Access, Medium Earnings, a category representing 43 percent of U.S. higher education institutions. This classification acknowledges HCU’s success in providing educational opportunities to diverse student populations while preparing them for competitive employment outcomes.
“As a Higher Access institution, HCU serves a higher percentage of underserved students who live in our region than average,” said Dr. Stanley Napper, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at HCU. “As a Medium Earnings Institution, HCU graduates are earning up to 50 percent more annually 8 years after graduation than similar populations from our students’ home locations. This classification perfectly describes our goal of transforming lives and families through an academically relevant program steeped in Christian values.”
In terms of access to higher education, this category evaluates institutions based on Pell Grant recipients, representation of underrepresented racial/ethnic backgrounds, post-graduation earnings and regional demographic and economic factors.
Institutional Commitment to Excellence
The 2025 Carnegie Classifications reinforce HCU’s commitment to strengthen its academic programs, campus facilities, and student support services through:
- Expanded scholarship opportunities for underrepresented students;
- Enhanced career development programs connecting students with Houston’s thriving professional sectors;
- New doctoral programs addressing workforce needs in healthcare, education, and business; and
- Innovative partnerships with regional employers to create internship and employment pathways
For more information, visit the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education website.
About the Carnegie Classifications
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education has been the leading framework for recognizing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education since 1970. The classifications provide a comprehensive representation of the higher education landscape and serve as a tool for research and policy analysis. The 2025 classifications introduce revised methodologies to better reflect higher education’s evolving role in fostering student success and social mobility.
About Houston Christian University
For more than 60 years, Houston Christian University has equipped students to lead, collaborate, and embody a deep sense of spiritual purpose. The University offers a wide range of majors, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs, as well as NCAA Division I athletics in the Southland Conference. Located in the heart of one of the nation’s largest metropolitan centers, HCU’s culture of excellence molds the next generation of educated disciples to be pillars in their communities, preparing them to think critically and biblically as they impact the world.