Editing Harris County, Texas (section)

===Colleges and universities===
{{see also|List of colleges and universities in Houston}}
[[File:Ezekiel W. Cullen Building (Alternate).JPG|thumb|right|[[Ezekiel W. Cullen Building]] at the [[University of Houston]]]]
[[File:Rice University - Sally Port.JPG|thumb|[[Rice University]] - Sally Port]]

Four separate and distinct state universities are located in Harris County. The [[University of Houston]] is a nationally recognized Tier One research university, and is the flagship institution of the [[University of Houston System]].<ref name="Tier One Research">{{cite web |url=http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2011articles/Jan2011/011811CarnegieTierOne.php|title=Carnegie Foundation Gives University of Houston its Highest Classification for Research Success, Elevating UH to Tier One Status|author=Bonnin, Richard|publisher=University of Houston |access-date=February 8, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Tier One Research 2">{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2011/01/21/uh-achieves-tier-one-status-in-research.html|title=UH achieves Tier One status in research|work=Houston Business Journal |access-date=July 6, 2011|date=January 21, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Tier One Research 3">{{cite web |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7386162.html|title=UH takes big step up to Tier One status|work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=July 6, 2011|date=January 18, 2011}}</ref> The {{nowrap|third-largest}} university in Texas,<ref name="State of the University: Fall 2011">{{cite web | url=http://www.uh.edu/president/communications/university-community/fall-address-highlights/Fall_Address_Slides_10-3-2011.pdf | title=State of the University: Fall 2011 | publisher=University of Houston | date=October 4, 2011 | access-date=October 5, 2011 | author=Khator, Renu | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027101812/http://uh.edu/president/communications/university-community/fall-address-highlights/Fall_Address_Slides_10-3-2011.pdf | archive-date=October 27, 2011 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> the University of Houston counted 43,774 (fall 2016)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2017/august/08212017UH-Welcomes-Record-Number-Of-Students-Fall-2017.php|title=UH Welcomes Record Number of Students for Fall 2017|author=Kever, Jeannie|access-date=December 29, 2017|date=August 21, 2017|publisher=University of Houston}}</ref> students on its 667-acre campus in southeast Houston. The [[University of Houston–Clear Lake]] and the [[University of Houston–Downtown]] are {{nowrap|stand-alone}} universities; they are not branch campuses of the University of Houston. Located in the historic community of Third Ward is [[Texas Southern University]], one of the largest historically black colleges and universities in the United States.

Several private institutions of higher learning—ranging from liberal arts colleges to a nationally recognized research university—are located within Harris County. [[Rice University]] is one of the leading teaching and research universities of the United States and ranked the nation's 17th best overall university by ''U.S. News & World Report''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rice University, Best Colleges 2009|work=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=March 27, 2009|url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/items/3604|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216191034/http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/items/3604|archive-date=February 16, 2009|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Five community college districts exist with campuses in and around Harris County:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Education Code Chapter 130. Junior College Districts |url=https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm |website=statutes.capitol.texas.gov|access-date=2024-09-10}}</ref>
* The [[Houston Community College System]] serves Houston ISD (including the former North Forest ISD), Katy ISD, Spring Branch ISD, Alief ISD, and Stafford MSD. This includes most of the City of Houston.
* The [[Lone Star College System]] (formerly North-Harris Montgomery Community College District) serves Aldine ISD, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, Tomball ISD, Humble ISD, and Klein ISD. This constitutes the northwestern through northeastern parts of the county.
* [[San Jacinto College]] serves Pasadena ISD, Galena Park ISD, Sheldon ISD, Channelview ISD, Deer Park ISD, La Porte ISD, and the Harris County part of Clear Creek ISD. This constitutes southeastern and eastern portions of the county 
* [[Lee College]] serves Goose Creek ISD, Crosby ISD, and Huffman ISD, far east to northeast sections
* [[Blinn College]] is the community college for portions of Waller ISD in Harris County, far northwestern parts.

The Houston Community College and Lone Star College systems are within the [[List of United States colleges and universities by enrollment#US Department of Education Ranking|10 largest institutions of higher learning]] in the United States.