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HCC and ACE partnership offers students seamless pathway to master’s degree

Sep 2, 2025

Students currently enrolled in the Healthcare Management bachelor’s degree at Houston City College (HCC) can seamlessly pursue their master’s degree in a healthcare-related major with American College of Education (ACE) thanks to a formal new partnership.

While completing their Healthcare Management BAS program at HCC, students can concurrently earn up to 12 credits towards ACE’s Healthcare Administration master’s degree program — allowing them to gain a head start and finish faster. Additionally, qualifying students can complete their master’s degree for under $9,000*, making it an affordable and efficient path to an advanced credential.

The ACE master’s degree is efficient, affordable and 100% online, and it will position the HCC students for continued career success, according to Lutricia Harrison, DNP, president of HCC Coleman College for Health Sciences.

“This partnership reflects our mission to support our students beyond graduation,” Harrison said. “By building strategic pathways with institutions like ACE, we aim to cultivate long-term success for our students through advanced education, career mobility, and skill development that meets the evolving demands of the healthcare workforce.”

HCC and ACE formed a natural and strategic agreement united by a shared commitment to accessibility, academic excellence, and value, according to Geordie Hyland, MBA, president and CEO of ACE.

“We believe HCC students will embrace this master’s degree option, which allows them to work and attend college and finish as quickly as possible,” Hyland said. “Additionally, students of the graduate program also have the opportunity to eventually pursue ACE’s doctorate degree in Leadership or Public Health Education.”

Since ACE builds its programs to intentionally stack, 18 credits earned in the master’s program may be applied toward the doctorate degree’s focus of study. This helps decrease both time and cost of completion.

A Memorandum of Understanding ceremony between HCC and ACE will be held Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. at HCC Coleman College, located at 1919 Pressler St., Houston, TX 77030. For more information about the ceremony or agreement, call 713-718-7366.

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*This is an estimated value of the cost for tuition and fees. Amounts may vary depending on number of transfer credits applied to the selected program hours, the pace and satisfactory completion of the selected program, receipt of institutional scholarship and/or grant amounts, or adjustments to tuition or fees as described in the Catalog Right to Modify Tuition section. State sales and use tax will apply where required by law.