Did you know the Village of College Park in The Woodlands received its name because of the higher educational institutions found here? A myriad of students of all ages take advantage of the diverse and affordable higher education opportunities found in The Woodlands, conveniently located along State Highway 242, known locally as College Park Drive.
Founder of The Woodlands, George Mitchell, envisioned The Woodlands as a community offering a lifetime of education, from preschool through primary, secondary, college, and graduate study. In 1995, George Mitchell, The Woodlands Development Company, now The Howard Hughes Corporation, and community leaders helped open Montgomery College in The Woodlands, which has become Lone Star College.
Today, The Woodlands is home to Lone Star College – Montgomery, Lone Star College – Creekside Center and the University Center at LSC-Montgomery along with Sam Houston State University (SHSU) – The Woodlands Center.
“We believe these students help make a positive impact in The Woodlands and are critical for attracting corporations to relocate to our hometown,” said Jim Carman, President of the Houston Region at Howard Hughes. “Our degreed and skilled graduates here strengthen the workforce in our community and provide an educated workforce in our economy.”
Mitchell always envisioned at least 1½ jobs per household in The Woodlands, creating an all-encompassing community where residents could live, work, play and learn. As developer of The Woodlands, Howard Hughes is proud to have helped achieve this vision with now more than 1½ jobs offered here. Over 2,100 businesses and corporations have found a home in The Woodlands, providing jobs for over 66,000 employees. The corporations located in The Woodlands benefit from an educated and skilled workforce, produced from higher education opportunities in our community.
“We consistently hear that a well-educated workforce is one of the key drivers in a company’s relocation decision. The Woodlands has the distinct advantage of a competitive workforce that is supported by a strong higher educational system. Our local colleges and universities offer programs that range from job training and certificates to advance degrees,” said Gil Staley, Chief Executive Officer for The Woodlands Economic Development Partnership.
Students attending the Lone Star College system can choose between 40 career programs options plus academic transfer courses in a variety of subjects including physical therapy assistance, biotechnology, computer information technology and radiologic services. In addition, there are weekend classes, transfer programs, vocational certificates, remedial opportunities and continuing education programs.
“LSC associate degree graduates may earn an average of $15,400 more per year than a person with a high school diploma,” explains Dr. Rebecca L. Riley, President, LSC-Montgomery. “With the average annual cost of LSC tuition for an in-district student being only $2,160 (12 credits/semester x 2), there is a tremendous return on investment for higher education.”
Through a college endowment fund, Howard Hughes has contributed to scholarships at The Lone Star College Foundation for two decades. Along with the college endowment, Howard Hughes has awarded over 360 scholarships to local high school graduates over the past 35 years to help students achieve their educational and professional goals. The scholarship program is part of HHCares, The Howard Hughes Corporation’s company-wide social responsibility program, established to leave a positive footprint, complementing our sustainability and environmental practices. Annually, we have been an active corporate philanthropist, donating and volunteering to over 180 local causes of non-profit organizations.
SHSU-The Woodlands Center offers 20 undergraduate degrees and 16 graduate programs across a diverse curriculum slate from accounting, mass communications to criminal justice and nursing in their satellite location, conveniently located on LSC-Montgomery’s campus.
These incredible educational institutions sit on pine forest laden campus grounds and are easily accessible by I-45, the Grand Parkway and Hardy Toll Road. Given the numerous businesses and top companies that call The Woodlands their home, college students studying here can look towards a bright future in their own backyard.