Numerous best colleges in Texas can be found in the major cities such as Austin, Dallas, Houston, Corpus Christi, El Paso, San Antonio, among others.
Moreover, Texas is home to several large research universities, mid-size colleges, and small liberal arts schools, some of which are notable private and public colleges.
As a result, it is not easy to decide which college is the best and which one suits your need. However, we have analyzed over 100 colleges in Texas and have come up with the conclusion as to the ones that meet the criteria you might be looking for. But before we list them out, we should note the difference between a public and private college.
Table of contents
Difference between a Public and Private College
Private and public colleges and universities, obviously have their diverse modes of business operations. This is mostly because they are run by different kinds of entities. While the private college is run with private funding, the public is owned by the state and also receives funding from both state and federal government.
The average annual cost of attending a four-year public college is slightly more than $20 000, while that of a private college is almost $43 000 per annum. This cost includes tuition, room, and board for full-time students.
Top ten Colleges in Texas
Here are the top ten colleges in Texas:
- 1. William Marsh Rice University
- 2. University of Texas, Austin
- 3. University of Texas, Dallas
- 4. Southern Methodist University
- 5. Baylor University
- 6. Tarleton State University, Texas
- 7. Sam Houston State University
- 8. Texas Christian University
- 9. Trinity University
- 10. Texas A&M University, College Station
#1. William Marsh Rice University
Located in the urban settings of Houston, Texas, Rice University is a non-profit privately owned research university.
It is a medium-sized coeducational US higher education institute. It has an admission rate of 9%, making it a most selective institution.
Rice University also has options for international applicants, while providing both academic and non-academic facilities and services to students.
The average tuition per year is $69 557 but if you are lucky with financial aid, you can pay as little as $17 000. The Williams Marsh Rice University offers courses and programs in all categories, including pre-bachelor’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
Major programs at Rice University include Psychology, Political Science and Government, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biochemistry.
In terms of ranking, Rice University ranks #1 in Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Physical Therapy in America, #1 Best Colleges for Sports Management in America, and #1 in Best Colleges for Architecture in America.
#2. University of Texas, Austin
Established in 1883, the University of Texas at Austin is a public research university in Austin, Texas. It has around 75 000 undergraduate and postgraduate students and more than 24 000 faculties.
Currently, it is the flagship campus of the University of Texas System. To separate it from the other 13 campuses of the University of Texas, it is known widely as the “University of Texas at Austin.” Although the overall system has over 300 000 students, the UT has close to one-third of it.
In all, the acceptance rate at the University of Texas, Austin is 32%, out of around 57 241 applications in 2024. This is quite appreciable when considering the standard of the school.
In addition, the graduation rate is 88% and the cost of attending the school for in-state students is $11 448 per year. The average income of the graduates of the college is $73 900 per year, with a 92% chance of getting employed after 10 years.
Top courses offered at the university include Law, Mathematics, Literature, Physics, Biology, Education, Economics, Political Science, Chemistry, Religious Studies, among others.
#3. University of Texas, Dallas
This is a public research university that is located in Richardson, Texas. It is famous for its large size. In fact, among the University of Texas System, it is the largest.
Furthermore, the acceptance rate at the University of Texas in Dallas is 79% and the graduation rate is 69% which is way over average. Equally, the in-state tuition is $13 992.
Graduates from the university can earn, on average, $61 400 per year. Moreover, they have an 88% chance of getting employment after 10 years.
Top programs at the University of Texas in Dallas are Computer Science, Engineering, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Communications, Criminal Justice, Literature, Earth Science, and many more.
#4. Southern Methodist University
This is a non-profit private university located in the suburban area of Dallas. It offers courses and programs that lead to officially higher education degrees such as associate degrees, undergraduates, and postgraduate degrees. The admission rate is 47% and this makes it a slightly below-average selective institution.
Still, SMU offers some academic and non-academic services to its students. It also offers opportunities for international applicants to enroll and study together with their foreign counterparts.
It has over 12 000 students from different states and countries. Also, the college offers a strong foundation in humanities and sciences.
The average tuition at SMU is $40,404 per year. It ranks #5 in the Beat Christian Colleges in America and #6 in Best Colleges for Sports Management in America.
#5. Baylor University
Formally affiliated with Baptist Church, Baylor University is located in Waco, Texas. It offers courses and programs in undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
Admission at the university is fairly competitive with an acceptance rate of 45%. Popular majors at the university include Nursing, Biology, Accounting, Computer Science, Engineering, and many more.
What is more, the graduation rate is 78% and the graduates of the college earn an average salary of $42 600 per year. Also, the average tuition is $38 372 per year, with 95% of students receiving average financial aids of $24 559 per year.
#6. Tarleton State University, Texas
With its main campus in Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a vibrant college with almost 100 undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs. It also runs an online undergraduate and graduate program with classes in Waco, Midlothian, RELLIS-Bryan, and Fort Worth.
It ranks #51 in Best Colleges for Agricultural Sciences in America and #70 for Most Conservative College in America. The acceptance rate at the college is 56%, which is slightly above average.
Also, the average tuition is $14 631 per annum. Popular majors are liberal Arts and Humanities, Business, Nursing, Mathematics, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Health Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science, and more.
In addition, Baylor University ranks #14 among Best Christian Colleges in America and #15 among Best College Athletics in America.
#7. Sam Houston State University
This is a public research university in Huntsville, Texas. It was established in 1879 and is the third oldest public college in Texas. It derived its name from Sam Houston who lived and made a name for himself in the city.
The acceptance and graduation rates at the university is 92% and 58% respectively, while the in-state tuition is $5 856 per annum.
For graduates of the institution, they look forward to a more financial outlook after leaving the school. This is because they make an average of $49 700 per year and have a 90% chance of becoming gainfully employed after 10 years.
The most outstanding courses at the college include Communications, Criminal Justice, Engineering, Earth Science, Physics, Computer Science, Nursing, Biology, Literature, Political Science, and many more.
#8. Texas Christian University
This is a non-profit private higher institution that can be found in the urban city of Fort Worth. It is officially accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Texas Christian University (TCU).
Moreover, TCU offers courses and programs in pre-bachelor’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. In addition, it has an admission rate of 47%, making it an averagely selective educational institution. It also provides opportunities for international students to apply.
Aside from that, TCU has numerous academic and non-academic facilities and services for students, among which are library, housing, and sports facilities, together with various categories of financial aids ad scholarships.
Major courses offered at the university include Nursing, Mathematics, Engineering, English language, Economics, Finance, and Communications. Tuition at the college is on average $37 509 per year.
In addition, the freshman retention rate is 91% and the graduation rate is 59% as well as average early career earnings is $52 800 per annum. the school also ranks $8 in Best Christian Colleges in America and #11 in Best College Campuses in America.
#9. Trinity University
The university is a private, non-profit higher institution located in the metropolis of San Antonio. It is also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Trinity University. It was formally affiliated with the Christian-Presbyterian religion.
Furthermore, Trinity University has a selective admission policy using entrance examination and the students’ record as strong criteria.
As a result, the admission rate is 30 – 40%. It offers financial aids, scholarships online courses and distance learning, administrative services, and other academic and nonacademic services.
Courses offered at the university include Literature, History, Museum Studies, Performing Arts, Religion and Theology, Classics, Designs, and many more. The tuition is over $20 000 per annum.
#10. Texas A&M University, College Station
Located in College Station, the university is a public university that is famous for its research programs. It began operations in 1876. Currently, it is the second-largest institution in the United States.
Some of its projects receive funding from organizations like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research Association of American Universities, and also the National Institutes of Health.
Having a crime rate of less than .01%, College Station is safe for students. Some of the notable courses in Texas A&M University include Biology, Engineering, Chemistry, Business, Physics, Computer Science, Education, Law, Communications, Economics, Earth Sciences, and many more.
Furthermore, the school has ranked as one of the best colleges in Texas and beyond under different categories. Such rankings include:
- #2 Online Master’s in Educational Administration
- #3 Most Influential US Universities by State
- #4 Texas Public Colleges
- #7 Texas Research University
- #11 Texas Best Colleges
Tuition – in-state – $8,395
Fees – in-state – $3,901
Moreover, graduates of A&M have a 91% chance of being employed 10 years after graduation. The average salary for each graduate is around $67 800 per annual.
Conclusion
We believe you were able to get what you want. The above are not all the best colleges in Texas but they made it to our top ten because they are worth every penny you invest in attending any of them.
References
- collegefactual.com-best colleges/southwest/texas/
- academicinfluence.com-best public colleges
- 4icu.org-reviews
- niche.com-best colleges in texas
Recommendations
