Engineering Academies

Applying to the UH/HCC Engineering Academy involves a three-part process:

1. Apply to Houston Community College (HCC):
   
   • You must first obtain an HCC ID number before starting your application to the Engineering Academy.
   • Follow the Steps to Apply and Enroll at HCC to complete your application.
   • If you are already an HCC student, you can use your existing HCC ID number to complete the next step.
2. Apply to the UH/HCC Engineering Academy:
   
   • Submit your application online through the HCC Engineering website.
   • You will need to upload required documents, including proof of Calculus readiness. (See below for more information about required materials.)
3. Apply to the University of Houston (UH):
   
   • Complete your application to UH via the Common App.
   • Ensure you meet UH's general admission requirements.

Important Deadlines:

• Priority Application Deadline for Fall 2025: May 1, 2025
• Final Application Deadline for Fall 2025: July 1, 2025

There are only two requirements for placement into the UH/HCC Engineering Academy: 

1. Applicants must meet general admission requirements for the University of Houston - Because Academy students are enrolled at both HCC and UH, they must be admitted to UH in order to enroll in Engineering courses.
2. Applicants must be ready to enroll in Calculus I, which is a co-requisite for Introduction to Engineering (ENGI 1100), the first Engineering course at UH.  For information about how we determine Calculus I placement, please review our Admission Process.

Applicants to the Academy will complete three (3) separate applications.  All required materials must be submitted SEPERATELY to complete each application.  The UH/HCC Engineering Academy application will not be complete until applicants submit the following materials:

Applicants to the UH/HCC Engineering Academy can choose from any of the 11 University of Houston Engineering Majors.

• The following majors require students to transition after 1 year: Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Petroleum Engineering
• The following majors are offered completely at the UH at Katy location: Computer Engineering & Analytics, Construction Engineering, and Systems Engineering

One of the benefits of being in the UH/HCC Engineering Academy is that students are co-enrolled at both institutions, meaning there’s no need to go through the typical transfer process when transitioning to full-time status at the University of Houston. Once you complete the program requirements, you will seamlessly transition into full-time enrollment at the Cullen College of Engineering.

Course Requirements: To transition, you must complete the following courses, including any necessary prerequisites. While the program is designed to be completed in one year, students may stay in the Academy for up to two years:

• ENGI 1331: Computing and Problem Solving for Engineers (UH)
• MATH 2414: Calculus II (HCC)
• CHEM 1311/1111: General Chemistry I and Lab (HCC)
• PHYS 2325: University Physics I (HCC)

GPA Requirements: Your combined GPA, calculated using all attempts at UH and HCC coursework, will determine your transition options:

• Combined GPA of 3.25 or higher: You are guaranteed your first-choice engineering major upon transitioning to the Cullen College of Engineering.
• Combined GPA of 2.5-3.24: Your transition to the Cullen College of Engineering is guaranteed, but your major will be determined in consultation with Advisors and program leadership.

This seamless transition process ensures that you can continue your education at UH without any interruptions, as long as you meet the program’s academic requirements.

Yes, dual credit or transfer credits can count towards the UH/HCC Engineering Academy program, but there are a few important factors to consider:

1. When determining whether courses taken at other institutions will count toward your UH degree it is important to refer to the degree plan of the specific degree that you will complete. In addition, the University of Houston provides Transfer Equivalency Guides to support the transfer process.
2. Students transferring credit from outside the state of Texas, may need to complete Transfer Credit Petitions to determine whether their coursework can be counted as Equivalent to similar courses at the University of Houston.  These petitions are reviewed by faculty within the department that teaches the course.  For more information, please review the UH Transferring Credit page.

If you have questions about previous credit that you have earned, please reach out to engracademy [at] uh.edu (engracademy[at]uh[dot]edu). There you can share an unofficial transcript and we will provide more specific guidance.

While co-enrolled in the UH/HCC Engineering Academy, Houston Community College (HCC) is the "home institution" for financial aid purposes. This means that financial aid, including grants, scholarships, and loans for the current aid year, will be awarded through HCC. Students cannot accept financial aid from the University of Houston, including UH scholarships. Private or third-party scholarships should not be impacted but must be applied to HCC tuition and fees.

To comply with federal regulations, students in the Engineering Academy must decline any financial aid offered by UH. For detailed information on applying for financial aid, including scholarship opportunities and completing the FAFSA, please contact HCC’s Financial Aid Department.

Some student will receive a refund from their HCC Financial Aid and can use that money to help pay for the tuition for the course that they will be taking at the University of Houston.