With highly acclaimed public and private education systems, Fort Bend County is known as the regional leader for an educated adult population and high school graduation rate. These educational opportunities continue to attract those looking to buy a new home and raise a family — and with great access to top-ranked colleges and universities, achievement is never too far away. Here are the top colleges and universities near new homes in Richmond.

University of Houston – Sugar Land

The University of Houston at Sugar Land is UH, Tier One higher education in greater Fort Bend County. An institute of the University of Houston, UH Sugar Land welcomes students who are core-complete and ready to pursue studies in our innovative programs, or major in one of the unique UH programs offered here. We are industry partners, student-centered and community inspired, serving Houston-area students with state-of-the-art facilities and flexible schedules close to home and work.

The University of Houston at Sugar Land offers undergraduate, graduate and professional certificate opportunities for the students it serves. UH Sugar Land is home to two inaugural programs in Nursing and Digital Media. 

Wharton County Junior College – Richmond

Ranked No. 1 community college in Texas by Bestcolleges.com, the WCJC Richmond Campus offers students in Fort Bend County many program and course offerings in academics as well as technological studies. It is home to the WCJC motion capture studio, where digital media students get hands-on experience in creating motion graphics. A new cosmetology facility at the Richmond campus also offers area students the chance to complete the cosmetology program in Fort Bend County. Many new technical offerings, including Process Technology, are available at this campus location.

The Richmond campus makes it easy to take the first two years of courses at WCJC and pocket substantial savings before transferring credits to a four-year university. WCJC offers 25 different courses, as well as 18 programs such as Computer Science, Early Childhood, Education, Engineering, EMS, Police, Process Technology and much more.

Texas State Technical College 

In partnership with Wharton County Junior College, Texas State Technical College (TSTC) provides the technical instruction and WCJC provides academic instruction. With tremendous support from the local community leaders to help fill the skills gaps and train local workers in the Greater Houston area, TSTC offers programs in Fort Bend County including Industrial Maintenance Technology, Cyber Security, Telecommunications Convergence Technology and Welding Technology. These new technologies are offered via Competency Based Education.

In researching the Fort Bend County area, the Perryman Group found that approximately 1,349 new workers with engineering-related skills will be needed each year through 2020 to fill positions in the area. Showing an even larger need, it is estimated that there will be 5,920 new positions for mechanics and technicians trained in repair technologies each year through 2020.

Houston Community College – Southwest

Houston Community College is an open-admission, public institution of higher education offering a high-quality, affordable education for academic advancement, workforce training, career development, and lifelong learning to prepare individuals in our diverse communities for life and work in a global and technological society. The Houston Community College System is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate degree.