Blinn board approves $68 million guaranteed maximum price for first academic building at Blinn-Waller Campus

Trustees approve major construction investment as population growth drives demand for higher education in the Waller region

December 4, 2025

The Blinn College District Board of Trustees approved a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $68 million for the development of a new academic building on the Blinn-Waller Campus during its Thursday, Dec. 4, meeting. The facility, which will be the first building constructed on the new campus, represents a significant milestone in the College District’s long-range expansion in Waller and the surrounding region.

The academic building is planned as an approximately 82,000-square-foot, three-story structure that will include classrooms, laboratories, student support areas, and administrative spaces that will form the foundation for future campus development.

The new facility will help meet rapidly growing regional demand for higher education and workforce training. The population within a 20-mile radius of the campus is projected to increase from 851,109 residents in 2024 to 1,024,349 by 2034, positioning Blinn to serve an expanding student population and support the region’s workforce needs.

In a related action, the board authorized the College District to proceed with the issuance and sale of $55.5 million in Series 2026 revenue bonds. Bond proceeds will support the construction of the Waller Campus academic building. The College District will fund the remaining project costs from its cash reserves. Blinn also will utilize its reserves to establish the bond reserve fund and to pay the cost of issuing the bonds.

The new academic building is part of Blinn’s significant investment in Waller and northwest Houston. In addition to the courses Blinn currently offers at Waller ISD facilities, construction is underway on a 17,000-square-foot Waller Workforce and Technical Education Complex that will begin offering classes this summer.

To assist students with applications, payments, academic advising, and financial aid, Blinn recently opened a new administration office at 31406 FM 2920, Suite B203, in Waller. Open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Blinn staff are available at the administration office to assist students with enrollment.

Blinn will host a dedicated Registration Day event at the administration office from 9 a.m. until noon on Wednesday, Jan. 7. At that event, students can get one-on-one assistance with admissions, advising, and registration. To sign up, students can visit www.blinn.edu/waller/registration-days.html.

In other board business, trustees received the fall 2025 enrollment report from Dr. Becky McBride, Vice Chancellor for Student Services. Blinn enrolled 18,362 students for the fall semester, a 1.5% increase driven by substantial gains in high school dual credit and Brenham Campus enrollment.

High school dual credit enrollment rose 17% to 2,986 students, reflecting the continued expansion of Blinn’s partnerships with area school districts. Brenham Campus enrollment increased 13.39% to 2,235 students.

Enrollment by location included 4,666 students at the Bryan Campus, 4,336 at the RELLIS Campus, 3,948 enrolled online, 37 at the Schulenburg Campus, and 23 at the Sealy Campus.