Tuition & Costs
Use the tuition calculator below for a personalized estimate, explore the fee breakdown to see what’s included in your costs, and review the residency guidelines to understand how classification impacts your tuition rate.
Whether you’re enrolling part-time or full-time, these resources are designed to help you plan ahead, make informed decisions, and confidently prepare for your educational investment at Houston City College.
Tuition Calculator
*Tuition & Fees are subject to change
Go to the HCC Catalog to find the total credits for your degree plan. Once the tuition is calculated, add the fees to determine each semester's total attendance cost. The fees are found below by choosing "in-district," "out-of-district," or "out-of-state." If you have questions regarding this information, please call 713.718.2000, and you can be connected to the Financial Aid Office.
HCC Tuition & Mandatory Fees
- Fees calculated above include Tuition, General Fee, Technology Fee, Student Activity/Services Fee, and Recreation Fee.
- Beginning Fall 2022, HCC will reinstate the Distance Education Fee of $42 per course for Online Anytime and Online on-a-schedule courses.
- Beginning Spring 2024, In-person class, Hybrid Lab and Hybrid Course at Katy Campus will be charged a $5 per credit hour Building Use Fee.
Tuition & Fees 2025 - 2026
- Tuition - $33.00 per hour ($50 minimum)
- General Fee - $25.50 per hour
- Technology Fee - $25.00 per hour
- Student Activity Fee - $1.00 per hour ($12 maximum)
- TOTAL - $84.50 per hour
- Recreation Fee - $6 per semester
- Tuition Out-of-District - $121.00 per hour ($138 minimum)
- General Fee Out-of-District - $33.50 per hour
- Technology Fee - $25.00 per hour
- Student Activity Fee - $1.00 per hour ($12 maximum)
- TOTAL - $180.50 per hour
- Recreation Fee - $6 per semester
- Tuition Out-of-State - $151.00 per hour ($240 minimum)
- General Fee Out-of-State - $50.00 per hour
- Technology Fee - $25.00 per hour
- Student Activity Fee - $1.00 per hour ($12 maximum)
- TOTAL - $227.00 per hour
- Recreation Fee - $6 per semester
Third Attempt Enrollment
"Students registering for a course three or more times will be assessed an additional fee"
Residents of the Houston City College (Houston ISD, Stafford MSD, part of Missouri City, Alief and North Forest ISD) service area are considered in-district for fee purposes if they meet the basic residency requirements. Questions concerning residency requirements should be referred to the Campus Admissions Office or the Registrar.
Note: Tuition and fees are subject to change or reclassification at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.
How Residency is determined
The amount of tuition you are charged is based on your residency classification, which is determined according to the information you submit on your admissions application.
- Under Texas state law, students are classified either as residents of Texas, non-residents, or international students.
- In addition to state residency, students are classified as in-district or out-of-district depending on whether they reside at an address that is in the HCC taxing district.
How to look up Residency Classification
When you log in to your My Eagle Student Account, your residency classification (in-district, out-of-district or out-of-state) will be displayed on the Financial Account Tile. Your residency classification is based on rules and regulations established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
How to request a change to Residency Classification
You will need to complete a Change of Residency Petition and provide additional specific documentation to provide evidence of domicile and 12 months physical presence in Texas for the 12 months prior to the Official Date of Record for the semester you are enrolled.
- To preview the specific documentation you will need to upload on the form, please view our Residency Petition Documentation resource.
All requests to update resident status, including supporting documentation, must be received prior to the census date of the semester. Changes to residency after the census date will not be applied until the next semester.
If you have questions about residency, please contact the Enrollment Services Office
Residency Classifications
A Texas resident who resides in the Houston Community College taxing district.
Who is a Texas Resident?
To qualify as a Texas resident, you must
- Live in Texas for one year
- Establish a domicile in Texas before enrollment
- Be either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- If you are claimed as a dependent on a parent's most recent federal tax return you will be classified based on the parent's/spouse’s qualifications for residency.
- If you are basing your residency on your spouse and have been married 12 months, you can be classified based on spouse’s qualifications for residency.
A Texas resident who does not reside in the Houston Community College taxing district.
Who is a Texas Resident?
To qualify as a Texas resident, you must
- Live in Texas for one year
- Establish a domicile in Texas before enrollment
- Be either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- If you are claimed as a dependent on a parent's most recent federal tax return you will be classified based on the parent's/spouse’s qualifications for residency.
- If you are basing your residency on your spouse and have been married 12 months, you can be classified based on spouse’s qualifications for residency.
A U.S. citizen/Permanent Resident who has not lived in Texas for the past 12 months.
Who is a Texas Resident?
To qualify as a Texas resident, you must
- Live in Texas for one year
- Establish a domicile in Texas before enrollment
- Be either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- If you are claimed as a dependent on a parent's most recent federal tax return you will be classified based on the parent's/spouse’s qualifications for residency.
- If you are basing your residency on your spouse and have been married 12 months, you can be classified based on spouse’s qualifications for residency.
A non-U.S. citizen who is not a resident alien.
- International students living in the United States under an eligible visa permitting residence must provide documentation and meet the same requirements as a U.S. citizen to qualify for Texas resident status for tuition purposes.