Lone Star - September 2025

Learn more

At Lone Star College System, Education Feels Like Belonging to Something Bigger

From First Steps to Full Degrees

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet

SPONSORED BY Lone star college

With more than 200 programs of study—including over 30 that can be completed fully online—Lone Star College System offers something for every kind of learner. Students can pursue associate degrees in arts, sciences, and applied sciences, or choose from workforce certificates that move them directly into employment. But for many, Lone Star College System is the first leg of a longer journey. Through its “2+2” transfer model, students can complete their first two years at Lone Star College System at a fraction of the cost of a university, complete their bachelor’s degree at LSCS, or transfer seamlessly to a partner institution such as the University of Houston or Sam Houston State University. The savings are significant, but so is the support: as Dr. Hagerty explains, “Lone Star College System gives you a pathway to decide how far you need to take your education, as well as helping you into that first step for your career.” LSCS’s academic pathways include bachelor’s degrees as well. Students can pursue advanced study in high-demand fields such as Nursing (BSN), Cybersecurity, Emergency Management, and Energy/Manufacturing/Trades Management—all without leaving the Lone Star College System. The college also opens its doors early: more than 20,000 high school students participate annually in dual credit and early college programs, giving them a head start on their degrees.

By Monica Vanover on September 26, 2025

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore.

Building Careers Without Pressing Pause

Nowhere is Lone Star College System’s reach more evident than in workforce education. With programs tied directly to Houston’s strongest industries—energy, healthcare, IT, robotics, and advanced manufacturing—students at the college are preparing for careers that keep Houston’s economy moving. Central to this approach is the idea of stackable credentials. Instead of one-and-done training, students can build their education like rungs on a ladder: a Level 1 certificate opens the door to an entry-level job; a Level 2 adds more specialized skills; an associate degree or bachelor’s unlocks new responsibilities and pay scales. Many students are lured by employers after that first credential—sometimes before they’ve even had a chance to finish their education. “It’s a great problem to have,” Hagerty shares. “Our students are so job-ready that employers want to hire them right away.” Still, she adds, finishing the pathway pays dividends: each credential brings greater income, stability, and advancement potential. For students already juggling work and family, Lone Star College System’s workforce programs flex to fit. Some classes run at night, others at dawn, with hybrid options layered in. Certain tracks move as cohorts, while others let students set the pace themselves. The effect is a system that bends to fit into a busy life rather than demanding that life rearrange itself around school.

Where Barriers Give Way to Opportunity

Students arrive at college with ambitions in hand—and plenty of hurdles at their feet. Since 1991, Lone Star College Foundation has been clearing the way, channeling millions of dollars into scholarships that turn financial strain into possibility. A single application opens access to an entire spectrum of awards—merit-based, need-driven, program-specific, even emergency aid. Endowed funds often target fields like robotics, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing, directing assistance where demand and opportunity converge. Support at Lone Star College System extends beyond scholarships. Students find practical help for real life pressures, so everyday obstacles don’t derail progress. “Student success takes more than tuition support. It’s care for the mind, the budget, and the everyday details that keep students moving,” says Dr. Gerald Napoles, Vice Chancellor of Student Success. “This includes help with access to technology, emergency funding, food pantries, clothes closet, and other services available within Lone Star College and among our community partners.” That same barrier removal mindset guides how the college partners with Houston’s employers and schools.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in

Student success takes more than tuition support. It’s care for the mind, the budget, and the everyday details that keep students moving.

On any given day, nearly 100,000 students across Greater Houston call Lone Star College System (LSCS) their classroom. Step onto one of its campuses and you’ll sense what draws them in. “As soon as you arrive, you can feel the energy,” says Dr. Christina Hagerty, Interim Chief Academic Officer. Surrounded by trees, lakes, and open spaces, each campus carries an atmosphere of a student community built for learning. It’s a “feeling.” That feeling is the spark of being part of something greater. Stretching across Greater Houston with seven campuses, eight workforce centers, two university centers, and a thriving online college, Lone Star College System ranks among the nation’s largest community college systems. That reach translates to an ecosystem of possibilities, one that includes affordable transfer routes, hands-on training for Houston’s strongest industries, and opportunities that fit first-time students as well as working adults. And at every turn, the college is built to propel students further than they ever thought possible.

The college’s community focus shows up most clearly in its partnerships. “Community colleges exist to serve the people right here at home. In Greater Houston, that means innovating with employers and schools and staying focused on local needs,” says Dr. Napoles. “Lone Star College System is an engaged contributor to the region’s growth.” Those connections turn into outcomes. Businesses co design programs with the college, train employees, and build talent pipelines—producing graduates ready for roles where demand is urgent and skills are critical across Greater Houston. From doctors’ offices and dental clinics to construction sites and auto shops, Houstonians meet LSCS trained talent every day. Hagerty says that’s no coincidence: the college listens closely to industry partners and builds programs around those needs, so graduates cycle back into the very communities that shaped them. “We’re serving our employers, we’re serving our community,” she explains, “and our students come back around to fill the roles their neighbors depend on.” Because those partnerships span the region, learners at every stage—dual credit students, working adults, and lifelong learners can find their fit and move forward.

A College for Every Season

Lone Star College System is more than a starting point—it’s a springboard into new careers, a center for reskilling, and a home for lifelong learners. Students arrive as teenagers in dual credit, adults pivoting to a second career, or seniors enrolling in the Academy for Lifelong Learning. At every stage, they find programs and resources designed to match their goals and carry them further. That reach—from a student’s first credit to an adult’s second career—binds Lone Star College System to Greater Houston. As the city expands and its industries evolve, the college moves with it, laying down new pathways toward degrees, careers, and personal growth. Where will your pathway lead? Explore programs, scholarships, and support at LoneStar.edu.