Lee College Gets $3.1M for Transfer Students
Houston Endowment's grant will fund coaching and mentoring to help Lee College students move on to four-year universities.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Financial Aid
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Houston Endowment awarded Lee College a $3.1 million grant to support transfer students, following a $500,000 planning grant it received in 2025. The grant is part of a $33.2 million initiative supporting nine Gulf Coast community colleges.
Why it matters
The funding targets the transfer process, which can be difficult for community college students seeking bachelor's degrees. For Baytown residents, it could expand local access to university-level education without relocating.
The $3.1 million grant is part of a $33.2 million Houston Endowment initiative covering nine Gulf Coast community colleges. Lee College has not yet named a university partner for its proposed four-year center.
The players
Lee College
A public community college in Baytown, Texas, which received the grant and signed transfer agreements with several universities.
Houston Endowment
A Houston-based philanthropic foundation that funded the grant as part of a broader initiative for Gulf Coast community colleges.
The details
Lee College will first apply the funding to students pursuing engineering and criminal justice degrees. Transfer Success Coaches will guide students from their first semester through their last, meeting with them after 15, 30, and 45 semester credit hours, and alumni will mentor students and help them through the transfer process.
Timeline
2023: House Bill 8 passed, changing community college funding.
2025: Houston Endowment awarded Lee College a $500,000 planning grant.
Since at least 2023: Lee College has pursued a four-year program.
Legislative Context
The grant adheres to House Bill 8, which passed in 2023 and rewards two-year institutions that help students complete degrees in high-demand fields. The Lee College initiative operates within that funding structure.
Baytown students who plan to transfer to a university may be able to receive coaching and mentoring at Lee College instead of navigating the process alone. The proposed four-year center could let students take university courses without leaving the area.
The takeaway
Students weighing a transfer from community college can ask their advisors about coaching checkpoints and alumni mentorship programs. Early planning around credit hours and target degree fields can make the move to a four-year university smoother.
Further reading
Explore more Financial Aid coverage for Baytown students.
Source note: This article includes information reported by BaytownSun.
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