Best colleges in Texas

Dreams Are Bigger Here

Best burritos, religious football, and happy employees

Texas is not lacking in self-esteem. From huge barbecue platters to ten-gallon hats, this Southern state is loud, proud, and a wonderful place to indulge in university life. Texas is home to 36 different public universities, as well as a multitude of private colleges. The state has also played host to a women’s university since 1901, which also happens to be the largest nursing doctoral program in the nation.* With a 5.2% unemployment rate, chances are good you’ll find a start to your career after graduation. With diplomas in hand, many new graduates go on to work in hospitals, technology centers, and a variety of other fields. And they’re happy doing it, as Texas ranked 7th in the country for happiness at work.* Local job opportunities include Blue Bell Creameries, Bartlett Electric Cooperative, and the OpenSpirit Corporation.*

On your downtime, take in some great country music, go to a football game, or test your taste limits on the state’s countless hot sauces. In Dallas, the Lakewood Yacht Club is home to great lunch items and a full service bar attracting people of all kinds. Tap into your science side at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. Go back in time for an education at the Alamo, Houston Museum of Natural Sciences, or the USS Lexington. Finally, join in with the “biggest” football state in the country and battle it out between Cowboys and Texans fans. You’ll be sure to make some big memories and a big impact here in the Lone Star State.

Click Here to See the Best Colleges in the US*Bureau of Labor Statistics *Wikipedia, “List of colleges and universities in Texas”, “List of Companies based in Texas” *www.traveltex.com *www.alternet.org

Best Four Year Universities in Texas

Rice University
Houston, TX

Rice University is a private institution in Houston, Texas that has a total undergraduate enrollment of about 7,000 students. The university has a 300-acre campus that abuts the Houston Zoo and Texas Medical Center. Students take classes that follow a semester-based academic calendar, and the university provides merit and need-based scholarships to most students. 

Rice has a rich academic history including the Cao Center for Asian Studies, the Boniuk Institute, and the Ken Kennedy Institute of Information Technology. Students at Rice can explore Houston’s Museum District, walk along Hermann Park, and take advantage of Houston’s METRORail system which is just across from the main campus. 

Many students benefit from Rice’s small classes and 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The university also provides students with over 360 undergraduate and graduate degree options in over 60 academic departments. Outside of the classroom, students interested in media and journalism can participate in a variety of student-led organizations like The Rice Thresher, The Campanile, and KTRU Rice Radio. Notable alumni include pilot Howard Hughes, writer Joyce Carol Oates, and American investor John Doerr.

The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is a public research university founded in 1883 in Austin, Texas with an undergraduate enrollment of roughly 50,000. UT Austin is a hub in Texas for academic research and consists of nationally renowned facilities including the LBJ Presidential Library and the Blanton Museum of Art. 

The university is in an urban setting with a campus located just north of the Colorado River in downtown Austin, with classes operating according to a semester-based academic calendar. The current student-faculty ratio at UT is 18:1, among the lowest in the UT system. UT Austin is made up of 18 colleges including the Cockrell School of Engineering, Moody College of Communication, and the Dell Medical School. Prospective applicants should note that the University of Texas at Austin’s tuition and fees for in-state students are about a quarter the cost of those for out-of-state students. 

UT Austin’s infrastructure on campus consists of seven museums, seventeen libraries, and an elaborate underground tunnel system that covers over six miles. In the athletic forum, the Texas Longhorn teams compete in the BIG-12 and enjoy regional football rivalry with Oklahoma, and locally with Texas Tech and Texas A&M. Notable alumni include actor Matthew McConaughey, film director Wes Anderson, and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.

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Trinity University
San Antonio, TX

Trinity University offers 72 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 675 students graduated with students earning 573 Bachelor's degrees, and 102 Master's degrees.

Austin College
Sherman, TX

Austin College offers 50 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 326 students graduated with students earning 310 Bachelor's degrees, and 16 Master's degrees.

Southern Methodist University offers 257 degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 3,834 students graduated with students earning 1,765 Master's degrees, 1,608 Bachelor's degrees, 394 Doctoral degrees, and 67 Certificates.

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Texas A & M University-College Station offers 564 degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 18,862 students graduated with students earning 13,255 Bachelor's degrees, 3,577 Master's degrees, 1,457 Doctoral degrees, and 573 Certificates.

Baylor University offers 228 degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 5,211 students graduated with students earning 3,263 Bachelor's degrees, 1,267 Master's degrees, 650 Doctoral degrees, and 31 Certificates.

Texas Christian University offers 167 degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 2,905 students graduated with students earning 2,244 Bachelor's degrees, 496 Master's degrees, 120 Doctoral degrees, and 45 Certificates.

Southwestern University
Georgetown, TX

Southwestern University offers 38 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 357 students graduated with students earning 357 Bachelor's degrees.

University of Houston
Houston, TX

Founded in 1927, the University of Houston is a public institution with a total undergraduate enrollment of roughly 45,000. The school has expanded since its inception and now provides a range of programs through its 14 academic colleges. The University of Houston tuition and fees for in-state students are about half the cost of those for out-of-state students, and the school offers many merit and need-based scholarships for applicants that fulfill scholarship criteria. Students that attend the University of Houston have access to a variety of student organizations and networking opportunities, athletic teams, and four on-campus libraries. 

The university is in an urban setting with a dense campus that covers over 650 acres with classes that follow a semester-based academic calendar. The current student-faculty ratio at the University of Houston is 23:1, which is typical for a large, flagship state university.

Located in Houston, The University of Houston campus is split up into districts that separate schools and department-specific libraries. Notable alumni include actor Dennis Quaid, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, and rappers Lil Wayne, Master P, and Chamillionaire.

Best Community Colleges in Texas

Houston International College Cardiotech Ultrasound School offers 2 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 12 students graduated with students earning 8 Associate's degrees, and 4 Certificates.

School of Automotive Machinists & Technology offers 5 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 87 students graduated with students earning 82 Certificates, and 5 Associate's degrees.

Vet Tech Institute of Houston offers 1 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 125 students graduated with students earning 125 Associate's degrees.

Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie offers 7 degree programs. It's a small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 703 students graduated with students earning 695 Certificates, and 8 Associate's degrees.

MediaTech Institute-Dallas offers 9 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 93 students graduated with students earning 78 Associate's degrees, and 15 Certificates.

MediaTech Institute-Houston offers 5 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 33 students graduated with students earning 32 Associate's degrees, and 1 Certificate.

Dallas Institute of Funeral Service offers 4 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 107 students graduated with students earning 58 Associate's degrees, and 49 Certificates.

KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts offers 3 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 38 students graduated with students earning 38 Associate's degrees.

Fortis Institute
Houston, TX

Fortis Institute offers 7 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 188 students graduated with students earning 175 Certificates, and 13 Associate's degrees.

Concorde Career College-San Antonio offers 9 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 101 students graduated with students earning 101 Associate's degrees.

List of all colleges in Texas

School Average Tuition Student Teacher Ratio Enrolled Students
Rice University Logo Rice University Houston, TX
5/5
12 : 1 8,672
The University of Texas at Austin Logo The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX
3/5
19 : 1 52,384
Trinity University Logo Trinity University San Antonio, TX
5/5
10 : 1 2,692
Austin College Logo Austin College Sherman, TX
5/5
12 : 1 1,182
Southern Methodist University Logo Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX
5/5
16 : 1 12,053