coogs win big

Anonymous donor gifts historic $4 million grant to acclaimed University of Houston program

University of Houston central campus exterior Ezekiel Cullen building

UH's Creative Writing program just scored a historic gift.

Photo courtesy of University of Houston

Hollywood’s James Franco never revealed why he pulled out of the University of Houston’s Creative Writing program, but one wonders if the actor understands what he’s missing.

In major news, UH’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) announced that it has received a $4 million gift in support of its Creative Writing program on September 17 — courtesy of an anonymous donor.

The largest endowment in the history of the college, the gift will “fuel research activity in the humanities and social sciences and advance the college’s mission of transforming today’s students into tomorrow’s global leaders, successful entrepreneurs, and industry innovators,” according to a release.

“This gift matters because it provides support for key strategic initiatives in CLASS, surrounding student success, faculty success, and community engagement,” said Antonio D. Tillis, dean of the school, in a statement. “Numerous academic departments/programs, especially creative writing, will benefit from this generous gift.”

UH’s Creative Writing program is often ranked as a top-five program nationally, with heavy hitters such as Matthew Salesses (The Hundred-Year Flood) and Marisa de los Santos (The Precious One) among the distinguished alumni. Hundreds apply each year for between 15 and 20 class spots and a chance to be published in houses such as Harper Perennial, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Penguin Press, and St. Martin’s Press.

The massive donation comes nearly two months after UH received an anonymous $3 million gift meant for its inaugural medical school class. The contribution adds to the goal of raising $1 billion in the UH “Here, We Go” Campaign, the first major fundraising campaign in more than 25 years in support of University priorities, including the arts and social sciences.

So will Franco one day be swayed to sign up for UH’s coveted curriculum? Time will tell, but it’s clear that serious philanthropic players have their eyes on the Coogs’ house.

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Houston ranks as 7th most affordable U.S. metro for raising a child

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Raising a child is not an easy or inexpensive feat, but a new study has determined Houston parents have the 7th lowest childrearing costs in the country.

SmartAsset's latest report, "Cost of Raising a Child in Major U.S. Metros – 2026 Study," calculated year-over-year changes in the annual cost of raising a child (factoring in childcare, additional housing costs, food, transportation, medical costs and other necessities) in the 48 largest U.S. metro areas. MIT's Living Wage Calculator was used to compare the living costs of a household with two working adults and one child to that of a childless household with two working adults.

Childrearing costs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands have grown 3.37 percent since last year, totaling $22,605 for a family of three in 2026. That's only $737 more than what it took to raise a child in 2025, and it's $1,209 higher than what it took in 2024.

This is how SmartAsset broke down the annual cost for raising a child in the Houston area:

Cost of childcare: $10,265
Cost of food: $1,721
Other expenses: $10,619

Houston ranked 42nd in SmartAsset's national list of cities with the highest childrearing costs in 2026, making it the No. 7 most affordable U.S. metro.

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont in California topped the list with the highest childrearing costs in the U.S., at $43,171. The cost for raising a child in this California metro soared nearly 11 percent higher since last year.

Memphis, Tennessee ranked dead last as the most affordable U.S. metro for raising a child in 2026. Families will spend less than $20,000 to raise a child in Memphis, only 3.24 percent more than what was needed in 2025.

Raising a child in other Texas metros
It may come as no surprise that Austin is the most expensive place to raise a child in Texas, and it appeared as the 31st most expensive U.S. metro for families. Parents will spend nearly $25,000 to raise a child in the state's capital city, which is $703 higher than it was a year ago.

Two other Texas metros join Houston among the top 10 most affordable U.S. metros for raising a family: San Antonio-New Braunfels (No. 3) and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (No. 10). Childrearing costs in San Antonio add up to $21,393 annually, and Dallas-Fort Worth parents will spend $23,340 to raise their children in 2026.

The top 10 most affordable U.S. metros for raising a child in 2026 are:

No. 1 – Memphis, Tennessee ($19,922)
No. 2 – Nashville, Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tennessee ($21,216)
No. 3 – San Antonio-New Braunfels ($21,393)
No. 4 – Birmingham, Alabama ($21,684)
No. 5 – Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, Virginia ($22,314)
No. 6 – Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia ($22,470)
No. 7 – Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands ($22,605)
No. 8 – Richmond, Virginia ($22,658)
No. 9 – Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky ($23,270)
No. 10 – Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ($23,340)

family smartasset reports livability houston pasadena the woodlands

coogs win big

Anonymous donor gifts historic $4 million grant to acclaimed University of Houston program

family values

Houston ranks as 7th most affordable U.S. metro for raising a child

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