Best Colleges in Texas + Complete List of Schools

Erin Treder
By
Updated on November 2, 2023
Edited by
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Low cost of living? Check. Preparation for high-paying jobs? Check. The best colleges in Texas meet these requirements and more.

  • As a large state, Texas offers many in-person and online schools.
  • Despite an overall low cost of living, the cost of college in Texas can vary significantly depending on whether you choose a private or public school.
  • There are many scholarships for college students in Texas available.

There are hundreds of colleges to choose from in Texas — which makes sense considering it’s the second largest state in the United States.

But the number of colleges in Texas isn’t its only appeal. For many students, the lower-than-average cost of living makes attending college in Texas a no-brainer. But don’t worry. Even if you can’t attend college there in person, you can choose from a large number of online schools in Texas, too.

Keep reading to see how the best colleges in Texas stack up to meet your needs, and decide for yourself whether studying in the Lone Star State is right for you.

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10 Best Schools in Texas of 2023

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Texas has dozens of public colleges and even more private institutions. So what makes the following colleges stand out as the best in the state?

Our list factors in academic quality, institutional reputation, affordability, and the student experience. We also considered online learning opportunities. All of the schools on our list are accredited four-year colleges or universities.

#1 Best Colleges in Texas + Complete List of Schools

The University of Texas at Austin

  • Location-markerAustin, TX
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$11,448
  • Out-of-state$40,032
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$12,028
  • Out-of-state$22,886
  • Retention Rate97%
  • Acceptance Rate32%
  • Students Enrolled50,476
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment92%
  • AccreditationYes
#2 Best Colleges in Texas + Complete List of Schools

Rice University

  • Location-markerHouston, TX
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$50,310
  • Out-of-state$50,310
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$47,306
  • Out-of-state$47,306
  • Retention Rate97%
  • Acceptance Rate11%
  • Students Enrolled7,643
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment93%
  • AccreditationYes
#3 Best Colleges in Texas + Complete List of Schools

Texas A&M University

  • Location-markerCollege Station, TX
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$8,395
  • Out-of-state$36,849
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$6,775
  • Out-of-state$19,048
  • Retention Rate94%
  • Acceptance Rate63%
  • Students Enrolled70,418
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment33%
  • AccreditationYes
#4 Best Colleges in Texas + Complete List of Schools

Southern Methodist University

  • Location-markerDallas, TX
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$51,958
  • Out-of-state$51,958
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$40,896
  • Out-of-state$40,896
  • Retention Rate90%
  • Acceptance Rate53%
  • Students Enrolled12,373
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment31%
  • AccreditationYes
#5 Best Colleges in Texas + Complete List of Schools

Trinity University

  • Location-markerSan Antonio, TX
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$45,840
  • Out-of-state$45,840
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$23,597
  • Out-of-state$23,597
  • Retention Rate89%
  • Acceptance Rate34%
  • Students Enrolled2,677
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment94%
  • AccreditationYes
#6 Best Colleges in Texas + Complete List of Schools

Texas Christian University

  • Location-markerFort Worth, TX
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$51,570
  • Out-of-state$51,570
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$32,220
  • Out-of-state$32,220
  • Retention Rate92%
  • Acceptance Rate48%
  • Students Enrolled11,379
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment95%
  • AccreditationYes
#7 Best Colleges in Texas + Complete List of Schools

Texas Tech University

  • Location-markerLubbock, TX
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$8,683
  • Out-of-state$20,953
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$6,788
  • Out-of-state$14,968
  • Retention Rate87%
  • Acceptance Rate70%
  • Students Enrolled40,322
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment54%
  • AccreditationYes
#8 Best Colleges in Texas + Complete List of Schools

Sam Houston State University

  • Location-markerHuntsville, TX
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$5,856
  • Out-of-state$15,672
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$5,765
  • Out-of-state$13,127
  • Retention Rate79%
  • Acceptance Rate92%
  • Students Enrolled21,912
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment60%
  • AccreditationYes
#9 Best Colleges in Texas + Complete List of Schools

Southwestern University

  • Location-markerGeorgetown, TX
  • 4 year
  • Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$45,120
  • Out-of-state$45,120
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-StateN/A
  • Out-of-stateN/A
  • Retention Rate86%
  • Acceptance Rate49%
  • Students Enrolled1,506
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
  • AccreditationYes
#10 Best Colleges in Texas + Complete List of Schools

University of Houston

  • Location-markerHouston, TX
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$8,449
  • Out-of-state$20,665
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$8,539
  • Out-of-state$17,681
  • Retention Rate86%
  • Acceptance Rate63%
  • Students Enrolled47,090
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment96%
  • AccreditationYes

List of All Colleges in Texas

We’ve created a complete list of all four-year nonprofit universities in Texas. You can use the table below to compare data on student population, average net cost, acceptance rate, and number of applicants.

The following school data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Schools with fewer than 500 undergrads were excluded from this list.

All Colleges in Texas
SchoolTotal Student EnrollmentAverage Annual Net PriceAcceptance RateNumber of Applicants
Abilene Christian University4,912$28,97866%11,226
Angelo State University10,826$12,83879%4,209
Austin College1,228$24,73954%5,192
Baylor University20,626$45,98846%40,753
Concordia University Texas2,137$24,76186%1,886
Dallas Baptist University4,340$27,60791%8,519
East Texas Baptist University10,395$24,16968%1,449
Hallmark University923$12,28153%329
Hardin-Simmons University1,937$22,63688%2,314
Houston Baptist University4,120$19,51584%10,258
Howard Payne University931$23,60359%1,333
Huston-Tillotson University1,001$21,06952%1,885
Jarvis Christian University721$7,365100%N/A
Lamar University16,320$11,75784%6,214
LeTourneau University3,209$26,97449%3,000
Lubbock Christian University1,661$23,55182%1,070
McMurry University1,145$18,75757%2,345
Midwestern State University5,797$11,36192%5,507
Our Lady of the Lake University2,550$19,100100%N/A
Paul Quinn College384$7,30687%1,117
Prairie View A&M University9,400$12,87576%5,691
Rice University8,285$19,9029%31,443
Sam Houston State University21,612$13,63285%16,316
Schreiner University1,103$24,27885%2,202
Southern Methodist University12,385$45,09452%16,150
Southwestern Adventist University852$20,02854%1,438
Southwestern Assemblies of God University1,843$19,21786%627
Southwestern University1,504$31,01445%5,557
St. Edward’s University3,577$24,66892%4,940
St. Mary’s University3,432$21,37986%5,369
Stephen F. Austin State University12,000$13,85890%9,944
Sul Ross State University2,100$13,13097%717
Tarleton State University13,995$13,75587%5,788
Texas A&M International University8,455$5,38348%7,848
Texas A&M University-Central Texas2,219$5,46596%70
Texas A&M University-College Station72,530$20,37563%43,422
Texas A&M University-Commerce11,504$13,02586%6,604
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi10,762$15,18188%8,421
Texas A&M University-Kingsville6,405$11,34797%5,768
Texas A&M University-San Antonio6,893$11,04396%9,110
Texas A&M University-Texarkana2,112$10,64691%2,018
Texas Christian University11,938$44,19056%16,197
Texas College731$17,717N/AN/A
Texas Lutheran University1,468$21,44292%1,835
Texas Southern University7,524$11,82697%8,582
Texas State University37,864$14,12088%28,908
Texas Tech University40,542$17,89667%35,400
Texas Wesleyan University2,531$15,65261%4,622
Texas Woman’s University16,338$11,68294%7,286
The University of Texas at Arlington45,949$14,26281%21,963
The University of Texas at Austin51,991$17,43431%60,055
The University of Texas at Dallas29,696$13,55585%21,500
The University of Texas at El Paso24,003$9,563100%10,493
The University of Texas at San Antonio34,734$12,66487%23,295
The University of Texas at Tyler9,687$13,24894%3,493
The University of Texas Permian Basin5,534$10,37095%1,475
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley31,940$8,10588%13,744
Trinity University2,704$30,03831%11,463
University of Dallas2,538$27,25059%4,307
University of Houston47,031$14,05666%29,783
University of Houston-Clear Lake9,279$17,87169%1,985
University of Houston-Downtown15,077$14,91188%6,131
University of Houston-Victoria4,189$11,76182%1,970
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor3,732$31,19796%13,001
University of North Texas42,441$15,28379%32,016
University of North Texas at Dallas4,120$10,35194%2,474
University of St. Thomas3,877$19,20797%1,123
University of the Incarnate Word7,508$20,83294%9,625
Wayland Baptist University3,508$22,66370%1,311
West Texas A&M University9,602$17,00192%4,695
Wiley College665$8,796N/AN/A
Source: NCES

What Is the Cost of Attending College in Texas?

The cost of attending college in Texas depends on many factors, including whether you choose a private or public school. The average cost of tuition and fees in Texas can range anywhere from $2,828 for a public two-year program all the way up to $37,450 for a four-year private school.

Cost of College in Texas in 2021
Institution TypeAverage Tuition & Required Fees
Public 4-Year (In-State)$8,016
Public 4-Year (Out-of-State)$25,471
Private 4-Year$37,450
Public 2-Year (In-State)$2,828
Public 2-Year (Out-of-State)$7,764
Source: NCES

Scholarships for Students in Texas

College is expensive, but there are ways to make it more accessible for you. In fact, Texas has a variety of scholarships available just for Texas students. Check out the three following scholarships for Texas students:

  • American Legion Auxiliary: This $500 scholarship is available to Texas residents who are direct descendants of veterans who served in World War I or any other war after 1941.
  • George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation: Each year, 70 scholarships are awarded to high school seniors in specific Texas counties. Worth $20,000, the award is given out based on grades and financial need.
  • Don’t Mess With Texas Scholarship: This scholarship worth $2,000 or $5,000 is awarded to high school seniors who’ve fought litter in their communities and plan to attend an accredited college in Texas.

10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Texas

After college, you can choose to work in a variety of fast-growing fields in Texas or apply your skills in another state. If you seek one of the highest-paying jobs in Texas, you may want to plan your major around one of the following areas, most of which are in the medical field.

The 10 jobs listed below earn the highest salaries in Texas.

10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Texas
JobAnnual Mean Wage (2022)
Cardiologists$413,510
Pediatric Surgeons$365,130
Ophthalmologists$338,400
Surgeons$331,980
Chief Executives$341,060
Anesthesiologists$298,710
Radiologists$297,320
Obstetricians and Gynecologists$294,250
Physicians$276,750
Pediatricians$250,850
Source: BLS

Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges in Texas

What is the No. 1 college in Texas?

The “best” college depends largely on your goals and preferences, but top colleges in Texas include Rice University, UT Austin, Texas A&M, and Texas Christian University. These schools all provide top-quality degree programs and offer the chance to network in many industries and businesses in Texas.

Can you go to college for free in Texas?

Free college in Texas — where available — is typically provided to Texas residents from low-income households. That said, each university sets its own policies for free tuition. For example, as of 2020, the UT Austin provided free tuition to qualifying first-year and transfer students with household incomes of less than $65,000.

Many colleges post tuition policies on their websites. You can also reach out to the admissions department with specific questions about tuition.

What is the hardest college to get into in Texas?

The hardest college to get into in Texas is Rice University, which is a private research university based in Houston. According to NCES, the school had an acceptance rate of just 9% in fall 2022.

Is it expensive to go to college in Texas?

It is not as expensive to attend college in Texas as it is in states with a higher cost of living. The low cost of living in Texas makes it a more affordable place to live if you choose to attend in-person classes.

Keep in mind, though, that the cost of college in Texas depends on many factors, including which school you choose, whether the school is public or private, how much financial aid you qualify for, and whether you’re an in-state or out-of-state resident.

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