Houston Christian University was originally founded in 1960 under the name Houston Baptist College. As the institution expanded its academic degree offerings, graduate programs, and institutional scope, the board of trustees officially changed its name to Houston Baptist University in 1973. Decades later, as part of a strategic marketing initiative to better reflect its broad Christian student body and inclusive denominational appeal while keeping its foundational commitments intact, the school adopted its current name, Houston Christian University, in September 2022.