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 in Houston, Texas, with a branch campus in Pearland. Founded in 1971, UHCL has an enrollment of more than 8,500 students. The U.S. News & World Report ranks the university No. 74 in its Regional Universities (West) rankings, and No. 24 among public universities in the same category.