2026 Best Value Value Schools in Texas

[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-analytics/general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
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2026 Best Value Value Schools in Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in Texas. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $9,326 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Typical student debt for value graduates is $23,312. Early-career value graduates make about $49,955. Set against $23,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Texas one of the best values for value. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,817. Early-career value graduates make about $49,157. Set against $21,817 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston Downtown came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Downtown is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,582, compared with $17,434 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $23,925 in student loans. Value graduates of University Of Houston Downtown earn a median of $46,298 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,925 median debt. University Of Houston Downtown admits about 90% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Arlington is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,950, with out-of-state students paying around $29,582. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,632. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Arlington generally make around $55,304. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Arlington admits about 80% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Texas State University San Marcos one of the best values for value. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Students borrow a median of $23,659 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $47,456 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.