Launching “Space City” Financial Services Careers at UHCL
The University of Houston-Clear Lake appears in our ranking of the 50 Best Online Master of Finance Degree Programs.
In Bayou Building, the College of Business has granted the Accounting B.S. for University of Houston-Clear Lake undergrads to learn the basic financial reporting procedures organizations use to track operational success. Chaired by Dr. Michael Lacina, the 120-credit, AACSB-accredited degree outlines courses from Federal Government to Banking and Internal Auditing with a 15:1 learner-faculty ratio. On-site or online, the Finance B.S. prepares for jobs spiking 11 percent by 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 120-credit bachelor’s headed by Dr. Melissa Williams follows a 2+2 “completer” format with electives like Personal Money Management and Derivatives.
For CPA eligibility, the Accounting M.S. advances cash decision-making skills in a 30-credit plan with an optional Management Information Systems Concentration. Houston’s only Online Finance M.S. logs into Blackboard for a 30-credit, portfolio-building curriculum of eight-week courses like Real Estate Investment Analysis. Currently, nearly 70 Hawks also pursue the Online Business Administration MBA in nine specializations, including Finance.
About the University of Houston-Clear Lake
The University of Houston-Clear Lake originated in 1964 as an aeronautical graduate-level branch at the Manned Spacecraft Center for NASA workers. On September 10, 1965, its director, ASME Medal recipient Robert Gilruth, requested a permanent educational institution. Six years later, the 62nd Legislature passed Texas House Bill 199 to erect the Clear Lake Graduate Center on 487 acres donated by Humble Oil. By 1977, the 65th Legislature had devised the four-part University of Houston system that included Clear Lake. Today’s name was adopted in April 1983 and the renowned Research Institute for Computing & Information Systems opened in 1986. Fast forward to 2009 and UHCL grew outward with a 30,956-square-foot Pearland Campus too. Budgeting $117.01 million yearly, the University of Houston-Clear Lake now educates 8,542 Hawks from 43 nations with 744 faculty and 93 clubs.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked UH-Clear Lake the West’s 61st best university, 17th top public college, and 58th best value with the 122th best online MBA nationally. On Niche, UHCL boasts the 211st safest campus, 349th most conservative students, 376th best location, and 697th most engaged student life. In 2016, the University of Houston-Clear Lake received the THECB Texas Higher Education Star Award. College Factual noted UHCL for America’s 152nd most popular accounting and 233rd best finance program. WalletHub chose Houston for the 179th top career outcomes at the 269th best cost. PayScale recorded the 419th biggest mid-career median income of $93,800 for UHCL alums. The Institute of International Education also placed UHCL 22nd for foreign master’s study.
University of Houston-Clear Lake Accreditation Details
On December 9, 2012, the Board of Trustees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) took action to reaffirm the Level V accreditation at the University of Houston-Clear Lake through 2022 under its fifth president, Dr. Ira Blake, who accepted a Hugh P. Avery Distinguished Service Award. Based 793 miles northeast via Interstate 10 in Decatur, this nonprofit 11-state Gulf Coast accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to ensure standards compliance for UHCL’s 68 baccalaureate, 93 master’s, two doctoral, and 29 certificate offerings. UH-Clear Lake also stands among 168 elite institutions holding separate accounting accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
University of Houston-Clear Lake Application Requirements
Getting into the University of Houston-Clear Lake is classified “minimally difficult” on Peterson’s since 752 of the 1,037 Fall 2017 applicants were okayed for solid 72 percent acceptance. First-year Hawks flocking to the Accounting or Finance B.S. must finish the Texas Distinguished High School diploma. Out-of-state equivalents with four credits of Language Arts and Mathematics also qualify. Ranking in the top fourth quartile of one’s class with a minimum 2.5 GPA is preferred. Assured freshman admission is available for 1030 SAT and 20 ACT scores or higher. College of Business transfers with 45+ credits need 2.0 GPAs, but those with under 29 are held to 2.75 averages. Undergrads educated outside the United States must reach ELS Level 112 or score above 53 on the Pearson Test of English. Minimum GPAs for bachelor’s holders are 3.0 in the Accounting M.S. and 3.25 in the Finance M.S. The Economist reported that UHCL’s Master of Business Administration has a median 600 GMAT mark too.
The University of Houston-Clear Lake set freshman priority deadlines of February 1st for Fall or Summer and September 1st for Spring. Accounting and Finance B.S. transfers apply until August 13th for Fall, January 14th for Spring, and May 28th for Summer. International students move dates up to June 1st, November 1st, and April 20th respectively. The Office of Graduate Admissions requires new degree-seeking candidates to file by August 1st, December 1st, or May 1st. Accordingly, use the ApplyTexas portal to submit the $45 application online. Have each institution send transcripts electronically or to 2700 Bay Area Boulevard Box 13 in Houston, TX 77058. Select codes 6916 (SAT) o 4171 (ACT) for test score submission. Other uploads like résumés, personal statements, and reference forms aren’t mandated. Please request more information at (281) 283-3110 or busadvoff@uhcl.edu.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2018-19, the University of Houston-Clear Lake is charging full-time Texas undergrads $4,250 per term or $8,500 annually. Non-resident Accounting and Finance B.S. majors pay $12,365 each semester or $24,731 by year. Studying part-time incurs $1,082 to $2,705 per undergrad course. Living at the Harris County campus’ dorms like Hawk’s Landing adds $8,620 for room and board. UHCL budgets $2,928 for travel, $1,064 for textbooks, and $3,662 for miscellaneous needs. Annual bachelor’s attendance equals $24,774 in-state or $41,005 out-of-state. Both the Finance and Accounting M.S. bill Texans $10,307 yearly full-time. Non-resident graduates taking 20 credits yearly afford $20,607. Online MBA in Finance cohorts shell out $1,790 per three-credit course for $21,480 total.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Student Financial Aid Center at SSCB 1.105 gets 59 percent of full-time UHCL Hawks soaring with median assistance of $5,457 or $17.93 million overall. Business funds include the Alex Scholes Memorial Scholarship, Bob Cummins Scholarship, Beverly Fowler Kyle Scholarship, Dorothy Grandjean Scholarship, Judy Vandagriff-Parents Scholarship, Lightfoot/Johns Family Scholarship, Lubrizol Accounting Scholarship, Mattie C. Porter Accounting Scholarship, Mae Snowden Bruce Scholarship, and William E. Shock Scholarship. The Full-Time to Finish Program gifts $500 per semester to Accounting B.S. majors taking 15+ credits. Veterans applying by February 1st add the Lois Gwynn Timm Scholarship to Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Federal Pell and FSEOG-eligible undergrads file FAFSA applications coded 011711. The Federal Work-Study Program is funded 75 percent by the government and 25 percent by hiring departments. College Factual lists average debt of $18,056 from Stafford, Perkins, Plus, and Consolidated loans. Don’t forget state-based aid like the Texas Public Educational Grant, TEXAS Grant, and Fifth-Year Accounting Scholarship either.
Continue reading about the University of Houston-Clear Lake at the College of Business website.
