| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public two-year junior college district, run by its own Board of Trustees; campus-based |
| Campuses | 4, all in Texas: Wharton (main), Richmond, Sugar Land and Bay City |
| Credentials | Associate degrees (AAS for careers; AA and AS for transfer), Level I and Level II certificates, continuing education |
| Typical length | Career certificates about 1 year (Cosmetology 11 months, Vocational Nursing 12 months); associate degrees 2 years |
| Accreditation | The Commission on Colleges and Universities (named SACSCOC until 1 September 2026), associate level |
| Federal aid | Yes |
| Cost | $134 per credit hour in-district, $200 out-of-district ($210 at Sugar Land), $252 out-of-state (current schedule) |
| Students | 5,687 in fall 2023 |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
WCJC: a public junior college with four Texas campuses
Wharton County Junior College (WCJC) is a public two-year college run by the Board of Trustees of the Wharton County Junior College District, a junior college district under Texas law. It opened in September 1946 with about 200 students in buildings at the Wharton fairground, moved to its permanent campus in 1948 and marks its 80th anniversary in 2026. The main campus is in Wharton, two campuses serve the Houston suburbs at Richmond and Sugar Land, and a technical campus is in Bay City. Alongside transfer degrees, WCJC teaches career programs in nursing, imaging, dental hygiene, physical therapist assisting, EMS, the trades, cosmetology, paralegal work and policing. Headcount was 5,687 in fall 2023, according to the college’s Fact Book, and in July 2026 the college announced a new Artificial Intelligence program starting in fall 2026.
Career programs at WCJC, and where they meet
The table shows the main career programs, where each is taught and the in-district estimate published on its program page (checked October 2026). Out-of-district and out-of-state students pay more. Process Technology, Nuclear Power Technology and Manufacturing Technology are taught at Bay City, with Process Technology also at Richmond. Art, music, psychology and business administration are offered as AA transfer degrees only.
| Program | Credential | Length | Where | Prepares for | College’s in-district estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree Nursing (RN) | AAS | 2 years | Wharton, Sugar Land | NCLEX-RN | $11,148 (Wharton), $12,180 (Sugar Land), 2-year total |
| LVN-to-ADN | AAS track | 12 months, June start | Wharton | NCLEX-RN | $8,991 |
| Vocational Nursing (LVN) | Certificate | 12 months, fall start; 40 hrs/week | Wharton | NCLEX-PN | $11,694 total |
| Radiologic Technology | AAS | 24 months, fall start; 18 seats | Wharton | ARRT | $10,132 tuition + $3,443 fees |
| Dental Hygiene | AAS | 5 semesters | Wharton | CRDTS clinical exam (hosted on site) | About $11,500 with used books |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | AAS | 21 months, fall start; 16 seats | Wharton | NPTE | $5,190 + about $1,616 program fees |
| EMT | Course (6 hours) | 1 term | Richmond, Wharton, Bay City (fall and spring) | NREMT | $1,067 |
| Paramedic | Level II Certificate (22 hours); EMS AAS (60 hours) | – | Wharton; also on the Richmond schedule | NREMT | $3,198; AAS $8,890 |
| Cosmetology | Certificate | 11 months, Mon–Thu days; fall and spring starts | Wharton, Richmond | Texas cosmetology licence exam | $5,460 + kit and books |
| Welding Technology | Level I Certificate | – | Wharton | AWS D1.1 and ASME bend tests | $6,720 |
| Automotive Technology | AAS; Level 1 Certificate | AAS 2 years; certificate 10½ months | Wharton | ASE tests | $8,060 (AAS); $4,848 (certificate) |
| AC, Heating, Refrigeration & Electrical | Two Level I Certificates | The college says 90% finish in one year | Wharton | EPA refrigerant recovery (prep course) | $2,469 (entry); $3,857 (apprentice) |
| Paralegal Studies | AAS | About 2 years | Richmond | – | $11,339 + about $3,185 books |
| Police Academy | TCOLE basic academy, 24 credit hours | About 6 months (day) or 12 months (evening) | Wharton (day), Richmond (evening) | Texas peace officer licensing exam | $3,686 + about $1,822 fees |
| Early Education | AAS (60 credits); Level 1 Certificate (15 credits) | AAS 2 years | – | CDA coursework (certificate) | – |
Most of the selective health programs, and the welding, automotive and HVAC programs, are at Wharton. Criminal Justice is an AS transfer degree; the career route into policing is the Police Academy or the Law Enforcement AAS that includes it.
What the main programs cover
Associate Degree Nursing (RN)
The generic ADN is a two-year AAS with 36 RNSG (nursing) credits plus general education, offered at Wharton and Sugar Land with a separate application window at each. Applicants are ranked and enrollment is limited. Once in the program, students spend 14 to 16 hours a week in clinicals and 4 to 6 hours in class. Licensed vocational nurses can take a 24-credit LVN-to-ADN track at Wharton. Graduates sit the NCLEX-RN. Through the CABNET partnership, graduates can go on to a BSN at a partner university such as UH or Texas Woman’s University; WCJC does not award the BSN.
Vocational Nursing (LVN)
The Vocational Nursing certificate runs for three terms over 12 months, starting each fall, and is taught only at Wharton. It is a full-time weekday program of about 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday, so most students cannot keep a full-time job alongside it. The Texas Board of Nursing lists the program as fully accepted, and completers take the NCLEX-PN to become licensed vocational nurses. The program page does not publish a pass rate. LVNs who later want an RN licence can apply for the 12-month LVN-to-ADN track, which starts in June.
Radiologic Technology
The AAS combines 44 credits of radiography (RADR) courses with 20 credits of general education over 24 months and six semesters, starting each fall at Wharton. Only 18 students are admitted each year. Clinical education takes place at affiliated hospitals, some as far as 76 miles from campus, so students must arrange their own travel. JRCERT has given the program an eight-year accreditation award, and graduates are eligible for the ARRT registry exam. The college’s program-effectiveness report had blank value fields when checked in October 2026.
Physical Therapist Assistant
The PTA degree takes 21 months and is taught only at Wharton. Sixteen students start each fall. CAPTE first accredited the program on 24 April 1991, and its current accreditation runs from 9 November 2016 to 31 December 2027. Graduates take the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE), the licensing exam for PTAs. Completion has slipped: 66.67% of the 2023-24 class graduated, down from 85.7% the year before, though the program reports 100% employment in both years.
Welding Technology
The Level I Certificate covers shielded metal arc (SMAW), gas metal arc (GMAW), flux-cored arc (FCAW) and gas tungsten arc (GTAW) welding at the Wharton campus. Students test for AWS D1.1 fillet-break qualifications in the 2F and 3F positions and plate-bend qualifications in 3G and 4G, take ASME pipe bend tests and complete 12 or more certificates from the AWS online library. Entry needs a 2.0 GPA but no TSI test, and students supply their own tools and protective equipment.
Police Academy
The basic peace officer academy is 24 semester credit hours, certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), and leads to the state licensing exam. The day academy at Wharton meets Monday to Friday from 7:30 to 5, in January–June and July–December sessions; the evening academy at Richmond meets Monday to Friday from 6 to 10 pm, July to June. Applicants must pass a psychological exam, fingerprinting, a physical and a drug screen. The academy office is in the LaDieu Technology Center at Wharton. The college does not publish licensing pass rates.
Tuition by residence, and how students pay
WCJC charges by the semester credit hour and adds fees to tuition, according to its tuition and fees page. The page carries no academic-year label, but its payment and refund dates run through fall 2026. Out-of-district and out-of-state students pay a $66 out-of-district fee, and out-of-district students at Sugar Land also pay a $10 campus fee.
| Per semester credit hour | In-district | Out-of-district | Out-of-district, Sugar Land | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $32 | $32 | $32 | $84 |
| General services fee | $83 | $83 | $83 | $83 |
| Out-of-district fee | – | $66 | $66 | $66 |
| Sugar Land campus fee | – | – | $10 | – |
| Technology fee | $19 | $19 | $19 | $19 |
| Total per credit hour | $134 | $200 | $210 | $252 |
| 15 credit hours (one full-time semester) | $2,010 | $3,000 | $3,150 | $3,780 |
The tuition page does not define in-district; the Police Academy page applies in-district rates to residents of Wharton County or Needville ISD. Dual-credit high school students pay $55 per credit hour in-district and $63 out-of-district. Minimum tuition is $50 for Texas residents and $200 for out-of-state students, science labs add $30 per section, and many career programs add their own fees, shown in the program estimates above.
WCJC takes federal financial aid, offers installment plans and links a net price calculator from its tuition page. Niche, using federal data, puts the average net price at $3,754 a year (checked October 2026).
Open admission, with ranked entry to the health programs
The college admits students openly, but several career programs cap their seats or rank applicants: the ADN and LVN-to-ADN rank applicants, Radiologic Technology takes 18 students a year and PTA 16 each fall, and the Police Academy requires a psychological exam, fingerprints, a physical and a drug screen. Welding does not require the TSI test.
Several programs run on fixed weekday schedules: Vocational Nursing about 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday; Cosmetology Monday to Thursday, 8:00 to 3:30, with new students starting in fall and spring only; and the Police Academy by day at Wharton or on weeknights at Richmond. Vocational Nursing, Radiologic Technology and PTA start once a year in fall, and LVN-to-ADN in June.
Accreditation and results
The Commission on Colleges and Universities, named SACSCOC until 1 September 2026, accredits WCJC to award associate degrees. The accreditor said its change of name does not affect any member’s status, and we found no sanction against the college. WCJC is also approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Programmatic accreditation and approval: JRCERT for Radiologic Technology (an eight-year award), CAPTE for Physical Therapist Assistant (through 31 December 2027), CODA for Dental Hygiene, the American Bar Association for Paralegal Studies, the Texas Board of Nursing for the ADN and Vocational Nursing, and TCOLE for the Police Academy. The automotive program is built on ASE standards and prepares students for ASE tests.
| Measure | Result | Cohort and source |
|---|---|---|
| ADN, first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate | 91.23% (52 of 57); Texas 92.69%, US 91.16% | 2024, Texas Board of Nursing |
| PTA, first-time NPTE pass rate | 81.25% (72.5% in 2022-23); 95.85% passed within all attempts | 2023-24 graduates, PTA program page |
| PTA, graduation and employment | 66.67% graduated (85.7% in 2022-23); 100% employed | 2023-24, same page |
| Paramedic, NREMT exam | 70% passed within three attempts, 77% within four to six; 94% employed in EMS | 2024 graduates, as reported to CoAEMSP, EMS program page |
| College-wide graduation rate | 16% within 150% of normal time | Full-time, first-time students, AY 2023 cohort, college’s Student Achievement Measures |
| College-wide transfer-out rate | 35% within 150% of normal time | Same cohort and report |
| Fall-to-fall retention | 73% of first-time-in-college students | AY 2023, same report |
Niche shows a 39% graduation rate from federal data; it uses a different measure or cohort from the college’s 16%, so the two should not be compared. The college publishes no pass or job rates for Vocational Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Cosmetology, the Police Academy, Automotive Technology or Paralegal Studies.
Before you enroll
- Location matters. Radiologic Technology, Dental Hygiene, PTA, Vocational Nursing, Welding, Automotive and HVAC are taught only at Wharton. Sugar Land offers the RN program but no EMS, and Richmond has no nursing program.
- Graduation rates are low: 16% of full-time, first-time students in the AY 2023 cohort graduated within 150% of normal time, and 35% transferred out, according to the college.
- The welding and HVAC pages claim 84% and 90% employment rates but give no year, cohort or method.
- Criminal Justice is a transfer degree. To work as a Texas peace officer you need the TCOLE academy, on its own or within the Law Enforcement AAS, and the state licensing exam.
- Paramedic results are mixed: 70% of 2024 graduates passed the NREMT within three attempts, although 94% found EMS jobs.
Four campuses: what each teaches
| Campus | Address | Main programs here |
|---|---|---|
| Wharton (main) | 911 Boling Highway, Wharton, TX 77488 | Only campus for Radiologic Technology, Dental Hygiene, PTA, Vocational Nursing, LVN-to-ADN, Welding, Automotive, HVAC and electrical, day Police Academy; also ADN, Cosmetology, EMS; residence halls |
| Richmond | 5333 FM 1640, Richmond, TX 77469 | Paralegal Studies, evening Police Academy, Cosmetology, EMT and Advanced EMT (paramedic on the EMS schedule), process technology, transfer classes |
| Sugar Land | 14004 University Blvd., Sugar Land, TX 77479 | Associate Degree Nursing (RN), transfer classes; on the University of Houston at Sugar Land grounds |
| Bay City | 4000 Avenue F, Ste. B, Bay City, TX 77414 | Nuclear Power Technology, Manufacturing Technology, Process Technology, EMS |
WCJC Sugar Land is on the grounds of the University of Houston at Sugar Land, and students there need a UH parking permit. In March 2024 the college announced plans for a health professions building at Richmond for vocational nursing and EMS, targeted to open in 2026-27; Vocational Nursing is currently listed at Wharton only.
Housing and clinical placements
Residence halls and a cafeteria are on the Wharton campus only. Clinical placements are built into the health programs: ADN students spend 14 to 16 hours a week in clinicals, and Radiologic Technology students rotate through affiliated hospitals up to 76 miles away. Program pages link to a Career Coach tool for researching jobs in each field.
What students say
On Niche, Wharton County Junior College is rated 3.82 out of 5 from 669 reviews, with an overall grade of B (checked 13 October 2026). Reviewers most often praise knowledgeable, supportive faculty and staff, small classes and low cost, and some mention clean campuses with places to study. The most common complaints are slow financial-aid processing and poor communication, few extracurricular and social activities, and limited food services; some Sugar Land students ask for better security. The reviews cover the whole college, and we could not tell whether they were invited by the school or posted in bursts.
Facts checked October 2026.
Programs & Courses
Nursing
- Associate Degree Nursing (RN)
- LVN-to-ADN Transition
- Vocational Nursing (LVN)
- RN to BSN (partner universities)
Health Professions
- Radiologic Technology
- Dental Hygiene
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Health Information Technology
- Pre-Allied Health
Emergency Medical Services
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Advanced EMT
- Paramedic
- Emergency Medical Services (AAS)
Law and Public Service
- Police Academy (TCOLE basic peace officer)
- Law Enforcement (AAS)
- Criminal Justice (AS, transfer)
- Paralegal Studies (ABA-approved)
- Human Services
Construction, Manufacturing and Repair
- Welding Technology
- Automotive Technology
- Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration & Electrical Technology
Industrial and Engineering Technology
- Process Technology
- Nuclear Power Technology
- Manufacturing Technology
- Electronics Engineering Technology
- Engineering Design
Cosmetology
- Cosmetology
Education
- Early Education (AAS and Level 1 Certificate)
- Paraprofessional (Level II Certificate)
- Education (AA, transfer)
- Family Studies & Human Development (AA, transfer)
Business and Computing
- Business Administration (AA, transfer)
- Business Office Technology
- Information Technology and Networking
- Artificial Intelligence (from fall 2026)
Arts and Transfer
- Art (AA)
- Music (AA)
- Behavioral Science / Psychology (AA)
Campus Locations
Wharton, TX 911 Boling Highway, Wharton, TX 77488
Houston (Richmond), TX 5333 FM 1640, Richmond, TX 77469
Houston (Sugar Land), TX 14004 University Blvd., Sugar Land, TX 77479
Bay City, TX 4000 Avenue F, Ste. B, Bay City, TX 77414