2027 Best Value Value Schools in Texas
[Value](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for value students.
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2027 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
Our analysis ranked The University Of Texas Pan American the best value for a degree in value in Texas. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,799, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. Value graduates carry a median of $14,694 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $51,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Lamar University one of the best values for value. Lamar University is a very large public school located in the city of Beaumont. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,905, with out-of-state students paying around $18,745. Value graduates carry a median of $26,988 in student loans. Value graduates of Lamar University earn a median of $52,678 early in their careers. Set against $26,988 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of North Texas At Dallas came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Dallas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,595, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Tyler Junior College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Tyler Junior College is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, with out-of-state students paying around $4,536. Value graduates carry a median of $14,869 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $43,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At San Antonio earned it the #5 place for value. 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, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $20,500. Value graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $49,385 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin earned the #6 position for value in value this year. Set in the city of Odessa, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,607, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Value graduates carry a median of $20,052 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin generally make around $60,503. Set against $20,052 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin admits about 95% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At El Paso landed the #7 spot for value value this year. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,544, compared with $25,502 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $19,819. Early-career value graduates make about $48,335. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 100%.
The University Of Texas At Arlington placed #8 among the best values for value. 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 $64,946. Set against $21,632 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston earned the #9 position for value in value this year. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $21,255 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $57,529. Set against $21,255 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Houston Clear Lake landed the #10 spot for value value this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,346, with out-of-state students paying around $22,290. Students borrow a median of $21,100 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of University Of Houston Clear Lake earn a median of $51,252 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of North Texas landed the #11 spot for value value this year. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,309 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,817. Early-career value graduates make about $55,873. That is a strong return on a $21,817 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Sam Houston State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,068. Value graduates carry a median of $24,850 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Sam Houston State University generally make around $46,365. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Texas State University San Marcos ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Students borrow a median of $27,418 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $55,855 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,418 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Dallas earned the #14 position for value in value this year. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public school located in the city of Richardson. In-state tuition and fees average $14,644, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. Typical student debt for value graduates is $17,961. Early-career value graduates make about $46,992. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Southern University landed the #15 spot for value value this year. Texas Southern University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Houston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,637, compared with $21,473 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $35,330. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Texas Southern University generally make around $52,223. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Texas Tech University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Students borrow a median of $24,271 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $50,332. That is a strong return on a $24,271 median debt. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Students from in state pay about $11,688 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $57,819. That is a strong return on a $21,275 median debt. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
West Texas A And M University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Set in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,101, while out-of-state students pay about $10,996. Typical student debt for value graduates is $24,798. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from West Texas A And M University generally make around $43,515. That is a strong return on a $24,798 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Wayland Baptist University came in at #19 for value in value this year. Set in the town of Plainview, Wayland Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,782. Typical student debt for value graduates is $30,204. Value graduates of Wayland Baptist University earn a median of $59,730 early in their careers. Set against $30,204 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Tarleton State University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value value schools. Located in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,302 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,142. Students borrow a median of $23,222 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $67,986. Set against $23,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Texas A And M University College Station placed #21 among the best values for value. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $55,944 early in their careers. Set against $20,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
