Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

What Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board does

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is a Texas state government agency established in 1965 by the Texas Legislature under the Texas Education Code. Headquartered in Austin at 1801 Congress Ave., the agency serves as the sole coordinating body for Texas public higher education, overseeing 200+ public institutions including universities, health-related institutions, community colleges, and technical colleges. Its mandate covers academic program approval, transfer articulation, data reporting compliance, and the administration of state formula funding.

THECB operates a portfolio of grant programs targeting priority workforce and societal needs, including the Statewide Preceptorship Program (established 1978, $4.85M for 2026-2027), the Nursing Shortage Reduction Program, the Graduate Medical Education Planning and Partnership Grants, the Minority Health Research and Education Grant Program ($5.6M available), the Open Educational Resources Grant Program, the TRUE Reskilling/Upskilling Grant Program ($15M via SB 8), and the Workforce Pell Grant Program. The agency also runs Digital Learning Texas (DLTX), an initiative encompassing the OERTX Repository, the Texas Micro-Credential Learning Network, the AI EmpowerED Series, and the OER Fellowship Program. Data infrastructure includes the Grants Management System (GMS), DataBridge, TXHigherEdData, the Integrated Campus Planning System (ICPS), CARAT, and CBM reporting systems used for statewide accountability and funding calculation.

THECB is funded entirely through state legislative appropriations (and certain federal pass-throughs like Carl D. Perkins and GEER II-Nursing Innovation grants) rather than commercial revenue. It administers over $1.2 billion in formula funding to Texas colleges and operates sub-brands including ApplyTexas, Texas OnCourse, My Texas Future, the Students First Portal (launched January 2026 for SB 17/SB 37 compliance), and the forthcoming Student Loan Management System (October 2026). Strategic direction is anchored in the agency's "Building a Talent Strong Texas" statewide strategic plan.

Name

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Legal name

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Website

https://highered.texas.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is a Texas state agency coordinating policy, formula funding ($1.2B+), and grant programs for 200+ public universities and community colleges statewide, while operating data platforms and workforce education initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Higher Education Administration

NAICS

Administration of Education Programs (92311), Administration of Economic Programs (926), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Grantmaking Agencies & Education Program Grants Administration (EDADAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Research Administration & Compliance (Sponsored Programs, IRB/REB) (EDADAKAH), Student Loan Programs & Servicers (Public/Nonprofit) (EDADAHAE), Scholarships, Grants & Education Benefits Administration (Financing-adjacent) (FSAKAEAM), Research Administration & Grants Management Support (Pre/Post-Award, Compliance) (EDAEALAO), Intergovernmental Affairs & Federal Grants Administration (BPAIAAAC)

Keywords

• Higher education coordination
• State grant administration
• Workforce education programs
• Higher education data systems
• Medical education funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. State Legislative Appropriations: THECB receives funding through the Texas state legislature's General Appropriations Act. The 89th Texas Legislature appropriated funds for various programs including $4,850,000 for the Statewide Preceptorship Program and funds for community college formula funding.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

THECB is the state coordinating body for Texas higher education, administering grant programs (healthcare workforce, OER, nursing, workforce development), distributing formula funding to public institutions, overseeing academic program approval and transfer articulation, and operating statewide data collection and reporting systems. It also provides student-facing resources for college access, financial aid administration, and a forthcoming State Student Loan Management System.

Product overview

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is a state government agency that serves as the coordinating body for Texas higher education. Rather than a single commercial product, THECB administers a comprehensive portfolio of grant programs, data platforms, and policy frameworks. Key offerings include: grant programs for medical education (Statewide Preceptorship Program, GME Planning), nursing (Nursing Shortage Reduction Program), workforce development (TRUE Grants, Perkins Career & Technical Education), and health disparities (Minority Health Research and Education Grant Program); digital learning initiatives through Digital Learning Texas (DLTX) including OERTX Repository, AI EmpowerED Series, and Texas Micro-Credential Learning Network; financial aid programs including a new Student Loan Management System launching October 2026; college readiness platforms like ApplyTexas, Texas OnCourse, and My Texas Future; and data/reporting tools including CARAT, DataBridge, TXHigherEdData, and the Community College Finance Formula Funding Model (HB 8). The agency also operates the Students First Portal for compliance reporting. These products work together under THECB's strategic plan 'Building a Talent Strong Texas' to support students, families, and institutions across the Texas higher education ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• My Texas Future: State's newest resource for Texans to find valuable information on higher education in Texas and financial aid
• Texas First Program
• Digital Learning Texas (DLTX)
• Students First Portal

Products and services

• Statewide Preceptorship Program (SPP) Provides funding to Texas medical students for hands-on clinical training experiences with practicing primary care physicians in family medicine, general internal medicine, and general pediatrics. Established in 1978, the program encourages students to pursue primary care careers by providing early clinical exposure.
• Open Educational Resources Grant Program (OERGP) Competitive grant program providing funds to Texas public institutions of higher education to adopt, modify, redesign, or develop courses using open educational resources. Includes Nursing OER Adoption Grants and Workforce OER Collaborator Grants.
• Graduate Medical Education Planning and Partnership Grants (GME Planning) Provides support for hospitals, medical schools, and community-based health centers to create new residency programs with first-year positions. Encourages partnerships between applicants and existing GME programs.
• Nursing Shortage Reduction Program (NSRP) Enhances capacity of nursing education programs to enroll, retain, and graduate more nursing students. Addresses the ongoing nursing shortage in Texas to ensure availability of skilled nurses.
• Minority Health Research and Education Grant Program (MHGP) Supports advancement of health research and education for medically underserved populations facing disparities in health access and outcomes within Texas.
• Carl D. Perkins Career & Technical Education Grants Federal grants supporting career and technical education programs, including Basic Grants, Field Based Innovation Program, and Excellence Access and Opportunity Program.
• Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Grant Program Builds a talent-strong Texas through creation, expansion, or redesign of workforce education and training credential programs in high-demand occupations. Programs lead to certifications or workforce credentials creating pathways to employment.
• Digital Learning Texas (DLTX) Statewide digital learning initiative that unites stakeholders in higher education to elevate quality of digital learning. THECB conducts research, hosts professional learning opportunities, and coordinates programs including OER support, micro-credentials, and course sharing.
• OERTX Repository Free repository of open educational resources for Texas higher education, providing access to OER materials for faculty and students.
• Texas Micro-Credential Learning Network Network supporting the development and recognition of micro-credentials across Texas higher education institutions.
• AI EmpowerED Series Professional development series providing AI literacy training for educators in Texas higher education.
• ApplyTexas Common college application system allowing students to apply to multiple Texas colleges and universities through a single application.
• Texas OnCourse State resource for Texans to find valuable information on higher education, financial aid, and career planning.
• My Texas Future State's newest resource for Texans to find valuable information on higher education in Texas and financial aid.
• State Student Loan Management System New student loan management system launching October 2026 for managing state student loans.
• Students First Portal Online complaint system within THECB's Office of the Ombudsman enabling students, employees, and public to report violations of Senate Bill 17 (DEI ban) and Senate Bill 37 (faculty senate authority).
• CARAT (Community College Annual Reporting and Analysis Tool) Tool for submitting required data and preparing reports based on Texas public community college Annual Financial Reports and Annual Investment Reports.
• Report of Fundable Operating Expenses (RFOE) Annual report used by THECB to accurately calculate formula funding rates and disbursements for community and technical colleges.
• DataBridge Data resource providing access to higher education data and analytics for Texas institutions.
• TXHigherEdData Comprehensive data reporting and analytics platform for Texas higher education institutions.
• Integrated Campus Planning System (ICPS) Centralized tool for efficient capital planning data collection from institutions and agencies, streamlining submissions and enhancing data accuracy.
• Texas Direct Resource facilitating transfer pathways between Texas institutions of higher education.
• Workforce Pell Grant (WPG) Program Expands federal Pell Grant eligibility to include short-term, high-value workforce education training programs.
• Texas First Program Student success program providing scholarships and support for Texas students.
• Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) Program supporting financial aid for swift transfer between Texas institutions.
• Texas Success Initiative Program assessing college readiness and providing support for students needing developmental education.
• Grants Management System (GMS) Online portal for Texas institutions to apply for and manage THECB grant programs including Statewide Preceptorship, OER Grants, GME Planning, and Nursing programs.
• Community College Finance Formula Funding Model (HB 8) Outcomes-based funding model (HB 8) for Texas community colleges, splitting funding into Base Tier and Performance Tier based on measurable student outcomes and aligned with state workforce needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3 million Texas residents face limited access to medical services due to physician shortages
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• Texas Pediatric SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 July 2026Statewide Preceptorship Program grant recipient receiving $1.9 million to support practical training for medical students in pediatrics, serving rural and underserved communities. Part of $5.5 million total State Partnership Program grants administered by THECB.
• Texas Academy of Family PhysicianscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 July 2026Statewide Preceptorship Program grant recipient receiving $1.9 million to support practical training for medical students in family medicine, serving rural and underserved communities.
• Texas Chapter of the American College of PhysicianscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 July 2026Statewide Preceptorship Program grant recipient receiving $1.6 million to support hands-on clinical training for medical students in general internal medicine.
• OpenStax at Rice UniversitykeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical assistance partner for OER Course Development and Implementation Grant Program, providing guidance to applicants and awardees in redesigning Texas Core Curriculum courses.
• Dallas CollegekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical assistance partner for OER Grant Program, providing help and guidance for redesigning courses using existing Open Educational Resources.
• Charles A. Dana Center at The University of Texas at AustinkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical assistance partner for OER Grant Program, specializing in co-requisite remediation for Texas Core Curriculum Courses and WECM course inventory.
• Texas Hospitals and Medical SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGME Planning program provides support for hospitals, medical schools, and community-based health centers interested in creating new residency programs. From 2014-2023, this supported 33 new residency programs and 275 first-year residency positions.
• Texas Conference on Student Success PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration with Texas State University campus in San Marcos for annual Texas Conference on Student Success (October 7-9, 2026) for education professionals to share best practices.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Washington Student Achievement Council: Washington state's higher education coordinating body responsible for state need grant administration, strategic planning, and institutional coordination. Comparable to THECB in administering financial aid programs, statewide data reporting, and policy coordination across public and private institutions.
• Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission: Oregon's state coordinating body for higher education with comparable oversight of public universities, community colleges, and workforce education programs. Direct structural analog to THECB including grant administration, data collection, and institutional coordination responsibilities.
• California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office: State-level coordinating body for California's 115+ community colleges with similar responsibilities for formula funding distribution, data reporting (MIS system comparable to THECB's CBM/CARAT), program approval, and workforce education coordination. Closest functional analog to THECB given comparable scale and dual mission of coordination plus administration of state appropriations.
• Illinois Board of Higher Education: Illinois's statewide higher education coordinating and policy body with statutory authority over program approval, funding distribution, and accountability reporting. Closely comparable mission to THECB in coordinating a multi-institutional public higher education system under a single coordinating authority.
• Tennessee Higher Education Commission: Tennessee's state coordinating and regulatory body for higher education with authority over public institutions, funding distribution, program approval, and outcomes reporting. Highly comparable governance model, statutory authority, and scope of coordination responsibilities, though operating at smaller scale than THECB.
• Indiana Commission for Higher Education: Indiana's state-level higher education coordinating body with comparable statutory authority over institutional program approval, state funding allocation, and statewide data/reporting infrastructure. Functions as a direct peer in coordinating public universities, community colleges, and health-related institutions within a single state.

Others

• Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE): Regional higher education compact supporting student exchange programs (Western Academic Leadership Forum, Professional Student Exchange Program) and policy coordination among member states. Functionally adjacent to THECB's coordination mission at a multi-state level, with comparable workforce and policy analysis outputs.
• Midwestern Higher Education Compact: Regional interstate compact focused on higher education cost savings, shared programs, and policy research for member states. Comparable to THECB in operating as a coordination body administering shared programs and collecting statewide data, though at a regional rather than single-state level.
• Southern Regional Education Board (SREB): Interstate compact organization serving 16 southern states including Texas, focused on regional higher education policy coordination, data exchange, and program administration (e.g., GME planning). Comparable to THECB's coordination role at a multi-state regional level and operates adjacent to THECB's scope on GME expansion and workforce alignment.

Broad incumbents

• State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO): National membership association of state higher education executive officers and coordinating bodies. While not a state agency itself, SHEEO represents the collective voice of bodies like THECB and provides the cross-state benchmarking and policy research function that complements individual state coordinating boards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TXHigherEdBoard
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TxHigherEd
• Facebookfacebook.com/TXHigherEducationCB
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/texas-higher-education-coordinating-board
• Instagraminstagram.com/txhigheredboard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments2 records

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Frequently asked questions about Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board