Why This Matters

  • 134 COLLEGES IN TEXAS

    According to College Navigator, there are 55 public colleges, 57 private non-profit colleges, and 22 private for-profit colleges in Texas.

  • $11,100 AVERAGE IN-STATE TUITION & FEES

    According to estimates from College Board, the average tuition and fees at a public school in Texas was $11,100 during the 2021-22 academic year.

  • $14,800 FINANCIAL AID PER U.S. STUDENT

    During the 2020-21 academic year, College Board reports that the average undergraduate U.S. college student who enrolled full-time received $14,800 in financial aid.

Our Research

This list features some of the best brick-and-mortar schools in Texas. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions. We included liberal arts colleges and research universities as well as small, midsize, and large institutions. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like the U.S. News & World Report among others to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.

The colleges on our list are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), a reputable organization that examines the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of education programs in the southern United States.

We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the student resources provided for on-campus students. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.

The Top 50 Colleges in Texas

Best Colleges In Texas
01
Intelligent Pick
Rice University
01
Best Public Institution
University of Texas at Austin
01
Best Job Placement Rate
Southern Methodist University
01
Best for Veterans
Texas A&M University
01
Best Christian Institution
Texas Christian University
01
Best Business Program
Baylor University
01
Best for International Students
The University of Texas at Dallas
01
Best for Study Abroad
University of Houston
01
Best Renewable Energy Program
Texas Tech University
01
Best Golf Management Program
Sam Houston State University
01

Trinity University
01

University of the Incarnate Word
01

University of North Texas
01

Dallas Baptist University
01

University of Texas at Arlington
01

Southwestern University
01

Austin College
01

University of Dallas
01

Texas Lutheran University
01

Schreiner University
01

St. Edward's University
01

St. Mary's University of San Antonio
01

McMurry University
01

East Texas Baptist University
01

Abilene Christian University
01

LeTourneau University

 

What You Should Know About Graduating From College in Texas

As you evaluate college options in Texas, you should consider how a degree will prepare you to enter the state’s workforce. The state’s top industries for employment were trade, transportation, and utilities; government; professional and business services; goods-producing; and education and health services in October 2021.

Many job seekers in Texas end up working in the state’s fastest growing career paths. The five careers for workers with a bachelor’s degree that are seeing the most job growth within the state are data scientists, information security analysts, logisticians, medical and health services managers, and operations research analysts.

Texas is a large state that has many companies employing thousands of people, and a number of employers have tens of thousands of people working for them. A few of the state’s largest employers include the University of Texas at Austin, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Department of Transportation, UTMB Health Diagnostic Imaging, and Chevron.

What’s Next?

When researching Texas’s college options, pay attention to financial aid. The following are some helpful state and federal resources that will assist you in identifying grant, scholarship, and other financial aid opportunities in Texas.

  • Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Find detailed information on in-state tuition eligibility requirements and state education loans from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
  • Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The U.S. Department of Education doles out over $120 billion in financial aid each year. You can check your eligibility at FAFSA4caster and submit an online application through this form.
  • CareerOneStop. CareerOneStop is sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to provide students with comprehensive grant and scholarship information. The grants and scholarships listed are sortable by state, and your search can be further refined by application deadline, eligibility requirements, funds awarded, and other criteria.