HOUSTON, TX (Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 10:00 AM CT) – In a moment that will be remembered as a turning point for Houston’s healthcare education pipeline, Houston City College (HCC) Coleman College for Health Sciences and the American College of Education (ACE) officially inked a partnership designed to catapult students from bachelor’s programs straight into graduate and doctoral studies—all at an unprecedented level of affordability.

Inside the heart of the Texas Medical Center, leaders gathered at HCC Coleman for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony, a symbolic handshake between two institutions with one shared mission: empowering Houston’s future healthcare leaders today.

Education with Momentum

Imagine graduating with your Bachelor of Applied Science in Healthcare Management from HCC and already having 12 graduate credits in your pocket—credits that transfer seamlessly into ACE’s master’s program in Healthcare Administration. That’s more than momentum; it’s a fast-track rocket toward career advancement.

Better yet, students can complete their entire master’s program for under $9,000, positioning it as one of the most affordable graduate-level opportunities in the nation. And because ACE’s programs are 100% online, students won’t have to choose between work, family, or advancing their education—they can have it all.

“This partnership reflects our mission to support our students beyond graduation,” shared Dr. Lutricia Harrison, DNP, president of HCC Coleman College for Health Sciences. “By building strategic pathways with institutions like ACE, we help our students achieve long-term career success through advanced education, upward mobility, and skills designed for today’s evolving healthcare industry.”

Leaders Speak Out

The excitement was echoed by Geordie Hyland, MBA, president and CEO of ACE:

“We believe HCC students will embrace this master’s pathway because it allows them to work, attend college, and finish faster. And for those with bigger dreams, ACE also provides a stackable route to a doctorate degree in Leadership or Public Health Education.”

Also in attendance were Stephanie Nellons-Paige, ACE trustee member and wife of former HISD Superintendent and U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Rod Paige, alongside HCC Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher, Ed.D., whose leadership continues to elevate Houston City College into a national model for innovation in higher education.

A Future That Scales Up

Here’s where the story gets even more powerful: those 18 credits earned during the master’s program can be applied directly to ACE’s doctoral tracks, reducing both time and cost for ambitious students who want to rise to the very top.

This isn’t just about earning degrees. This is about producing the next generation of healthcare executives, hospital administrators, and public health leaders who will shape policy and patient care across Houston, Texas, and beyond.

Community Meets Ceremony

The signing ceremony wasn’t simply a formality—it was a celebration of Houston’s investment in its own. With the Texas Medical Center as the backdrop, the agreement underscored HCC’s role as Houston’s healthcare education powerhouse and ACE’s mission to make graduate-level education accessible and affordable.

The message was clear: when Houston educates boldly, Houston leads globally. 

For more details about the HCC-ACE partnership, call 713-718-7366 or visit hccs.edu/Coleman.