The University of Houston–Clear Lake (UHCL) is a four-year state university and one of four distinct institutions in the University of Houston System. Its campus spans 524 acres (2.12 km2) in the cities of Pasadena and Houston, Texas, with a branch campuses in Pearland and Texas Medical Center. Founded in 1971, UHCL has an enrollment of nearly 9,000 students for fall 2018. The U.S. News & World Report ranks the university No. 61 in its 2019 Regional Universities (West) rankings.The university serves students in four academic colleges. UHCL offers 97 degree programs: 46 bachelors, 48 masters, and three doctoral. Awarding more than 2,100 degrees annually, the university's alumni base exceeds 66,000.