Houston

As the largest city in Texas and the fourth largest city in the United States, the city of Houston is exciting, bustling and prosperous. The city is furthermore incredibly diverse, with a population that is 37.4% Hispanic, 30.8% White/Non-Hispanic and 25.3% Black. Consequently, Houston possesses a very unique, multi-cultural vibe, with endless opportunities to experience the arts, be it through museums, festivals, theatrical performances or musical concerts. Because there are so many colleges in Houston, it’s easy to get caught up in the city’s thriving sports scene. On the professional level, Houston boasts teams for every single major professional sport except the NHL.

Remarkably, there are no less than sixty colleges in Houston, including large universities, liberal arts schools, community colleges, research centers and a number of other degree-granting institutions, which makes Houston an excellent location to pursue an education. If that isn’t enough to persuade you, the city was also ranked the number one best city for college graduates in 2008. Students looking to go into the healthcare industry will certainly feel at ease at one of the many Houston colleges, since Houston is home to the Texas Medical Center, an organization that houses the largest concentration of research and healthcare institutions in the world. With such an important conglomerate of medical institutions, it’s relatively easy for the students of Houston colleges to find apprentice and research opportunities in the medical field. Houston is furthermore known for its energy industry, housing no less than six headquarters of the world’s major energy companies. Other significant employment providers fall under the categories of construction, professional, scientific and technical services, accommodation and food services and finance and insurance. The estimated median household income in Houston in 2008 was $44,315, up from $36,616 in 2000.