In recent years, Houston's academic landscape has witnessed a remarkable surge in endowments among its universities and colleges, garnering substantial support from donors for their efforts in driving innovation, advancing research and bolstering the region’s future workforce.  In 2021, Rice University exemplified this trend by achieving an endowment exceeding $8 billion. Building upon this success in 2022, the university maintained its strong position by securing the second-largest endowment assets in the Houston area, totaling an impressive $7.8 billion, as reported in the university's Endowment Report.  These substantial endowment assets serve as the cornerstone of Rice's financial stability, enabling the institution to fuel various initiatives aimed at advancement. From expanding faculty and introducing innovative programs to constructing cutting-edge facilities, the university's investments pave the way for groundbreaking research endeavors.  In 2023, Rice unveiled its most ambitious project yet—the Ralph S. O'Connor Building for Engineering and Science, sprawling 250,000 square-foot facility devoted to research, the university’s largest to date. Designed to foster collaboration among students and researchers, the building promises to be a hub for groundbreaking discoveries. Its realization was made possible by a generous $57 million donation from the founder of Ralph S. O'Connor & Associates.  San Jacinto College saw the largest growth in endowment assets among local universities and colleges, jumping from $7.4 million in 2019 to $25.2 million in 2022, according to the university’s Donor Impact Report.   In 2021, the college received its most substantial donation in history, a $30 million contribution from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott. This gift now supports the Student Success Fund Endowment to expand Promise @ San Jac Scholarships, which provides free tuition to recent graduates from local ISDs.  Additionally, in 2023, the college received $1.5 million from Houston Endowment to launch its second bachelor’s degree – a Bachelor of Applied Science in Education with an emphasis in early childhood education, which aims to fill the region’s teacher shortage.   As these institutions continue to see a rapid flow of philanthropic investments, the growth in endowments plays a pivotal role in enhancing educational opportunities and resources for students. Simultaneously, this serves as a catalyst for attracting top talent and cultivating a skilled pool of graduates prepared to meet the evolving needs of the region’s workforce.  Learn more about Houston’s universities and colleges.  

Rice University President Reggie DesRoches delved into the institution’s transformative advancements, identifying research and community collaboration as top priorities of focus at the Partnership’s annual State of Education.  Supporting nearly 9,000 students, Rice is a critical part of the region’s higher education ecosystem and serves as a catalyst for building Houston’s future workforce. To better serve Houston’s community and key industries, Rice has strategically increased its efforts to advance impactful research within the institution. These efforts include a significant 20% augmentation of undergraduate and graduate students, the addition of 200 faculty members and the inauguration of a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to energy transition research – The Ralph S. O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science.  “The focus of our research is not just to have research but to have an impact in the region and the greater community,” said DesRoches. DesRoches highlighted that Rice is also working to increase the presence of graduate students focusing on PhD programs, which will further expand the institution’s research initiatives. To drive more impactful research and to cement the university’s position as a leading innovation hub, DesRoches pointed to collaboration. Through the support and partnerships of local entities and organizations like The Ion Houston and Greentown Labs, Rice has established many groundbreaking programs such as the Entrepreneurship Exchange for Energy. These efforts underline the university's dedication to cultivating research and innovation within Houston and beyond. As a true testament of research and collaboration, Rice recently partnered with Houston Methodist to open the Center for Human Performance; a 6,000-square-foot research facility located in Rice’s Tudor Fieldhouse. The new facility aims to propel research focusing on injury prevention and recovery, improving overall health across the region.  However, Rice sees more potential to be unlocked by leveraging the Texas Medical Center as a resource to deepen its engagement in health sciences, aiming for elevated contributions to the field. "The research and development stemming from [Rice University] are key drivers of technological advancement, which helps us attract businesses seeking to leverage the latest innovations to Houston," said Partnership President and CEO Bob Harvey.  Learn more about Houston’s Higher Education Institutions.