Best Colleges in Texas + Complete List of Schools
- 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.
Featured Online Programs
10 Best Schools in Texas of 2023
Methodology
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.
The University of Texas at Austin
- Austin, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$11,448
- Out-of-state$40,032
- In-State$12,028
- Out-of-state$22,886
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate32%
- Students Enrolled50,476
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment92%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$50,310
- Out-of-state$50,310
- In-State$47,306
- Out-of-state$47,306
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate11%
- Students Enrolled7,643
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment93%
- AccreditationYes
Texas A&M University
- College Station, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,395
- Out-of-state$36,849
- In-State$6,775
- Out-of-state$19,048
- Retention Rate94%
- Acceptance Rate63%
- Students Enrolled70,418
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment33%
- AccreditationYes
Southern Methodist University
- Dallas, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$51,958
- Out-of-state$51,958
- In-State$40,896
- Out-of-state$40,896
- Retention Rate90%
- Acceptance Rate53%
- Students Enrolled12,373
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment31%
- AccreditationYes
Trinity University
- San Antonio, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$45,840
- Out-of-state$45,840
- In-State$23,597
- Out-of-state$23,597
- Retention Rate89%
- Acceptance Rate34%
- Students Enrolled2,677
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment94%
- AccreditationYes
Texas Christian University
- Fort Worth, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$51,570
- Out-of-state$51,570
- In-State$32,220
- Out-of-state$32,220
- Retention Rate92%
- Acceptance Rate48%
- Students Enrolled11,379
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment95%
- AccreditationYes
Texas Tech University
- Lubbock, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,683
- Out-of-state$20,953
- In-State$6,788
- Out-of-state$14,968
- Retention Rate87%
- Acceptance Rate70%
- Students Enrolled40,322
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment54%
- AccreditationYes
Sam Houston State University
- Huntsville, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,856
- Out-of-state$15,672
- In-State$5,765
- Out-of-state$13,127
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance Rate92%
- Students Enrolled21,912
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment60%
- AccreditationYes
Southwestern University
- Georgetown, TX
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$45,120
- Out-of-state$45,120
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate86%
- Acceptance Rate49%
- Students Enrolled1,506
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
University of Houston
- Houston, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,449
- Out-of-state$20,665
- 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.
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.
Institution Type | Average 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 |
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.
Job | Annual 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 |
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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