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2021 Best Colleges for the Money (With No Aid) in Texas

67 Colleges
$27,520 Avg Cost (Without Aid)*
4.5 Years Avg Time to Graduate*

There are lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Texas Schools For The Money For Those With No Aid ranking.

We analyzed 67 colleges and universities to determine which were the best for overall value for the money with no aid in Texas. It's important to note that this isn't just a listing of colleges and universities with the lowest sticker price. Instead, this ranking identifies schools that offer a high quality educational experience at a lower-than-expected price. So it is possible that College A may rank better than College B, while College B is less expensive to attend.

Get more details on our ranking methodology.

When determining average cost, we look at total expenses, such as tuition, fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other living expenses. This gives a rough estimation of how much money you can expect to pay out-of-pocket or through loans each year.

Custom Rankings

We've developed a number of other tools and rankings to help you make your college decision. Start by filtering this list by location or field of study and then explore our other rankings that feature schools great for different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.

We've created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering!

Top Colleges for the Money (Without Aid) in Texas

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

The University of Texas at Austin tops this year’s ranking as the best school for overall value for the money with no aid in Texas. UT Austin is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10,098 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.

It takes the average student at UT Austin about 4.3 years to graduate, and it costs students who receive no aid about $27,728 per year to attend the school. When we combine these numbers, we estimate that the cost to get a bachelor’s degree from UT Austin is $119,230. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. UT Austin also took the #2 spot in our Best Colleges in Texas rankings.

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#2

Texas A&M University - College Station

College Station, Texas

The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Texas A&M University - College Station helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for the money in Texas. Located in College Station, Texas, the large public school handed out 13,198 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.

It takes the average student at Texas A&M about 4.4 years to graduate, and the estimated yearly cost for the school is $29,291 for students who receive no aid. Looking at these numbers together, we estimate that the average cost of a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M is about $127,709. When you graduate sooner, you can save a lot of money.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Texas A&M also made our Best Colleges in Texas list, coming in at #4.

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#3

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges for the Money in Texas list means University of Houston is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. U of H is a large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 7,631 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.

The average student at U of H graduates in less than 4.6 years, and on average, the annual cost to attend the school is $23,979 for students who receive no aid. Looking at these numbers together, we estimate that the average cost of a bachelor’s degree from U of H is about $110,783. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. In addition to its great value ranking, U of H is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Colleges in Texas list.

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#4

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas Tech University. The school came in at #4 in Texas on this year’s best value ranking. Located in Lubbock, Texas, the large public school handed out 6,599 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.

The average amount of time it takes for a student to receive their degree at Texas Tech is 4.5 years, and the average full-time cost to attend the school for students who receive no aid is around $23,590. This makes the estimated cost of a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech be around $106,627. Graduating sooner can prevent you from having to pay more money out of pocket.

In addition to its great value ranking, Texas Tech is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Colleges in Texas list.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas at Dallas. It ranked #5 on our 2021 Best Value Colleges in Texas list. UT Dallas is located in Richardson, Texas and has a large student population. In 2018-2019, this school awarded 4,225 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

At UT Dallas, the average time it takes a student to graduate is 4.3 years, and it costs students who receive no aid about $29,964 per year to attend the school. Thus, the average cost to get a bachelor’s degree from the UT Dallas is $128,845. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UT Dallas also is in the top 15% of our Best Colleges in Texas ranking.

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#6

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in Texas list. Located in San Marcos, Texas, the large public school handed out 7,427 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.

The average student at Texas State graduates in less than 4.6 years, and on average, the annual cost to attend the school is $23,791 for students who receive no aid. This means that the average student pays around $109,201 to get a bachelor’s degree from Texas State. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.

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#7

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas

Sam Houston State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Texas ranking. Located in Huntsville, Texas, the large public school awarded 4,343 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2018-2019.

The average student at SHSU graduates in less than 4.5 years, and the estimated yearly cost for the school is $23,326 for students who receive no aid. Putting this cost and the average time to graduate together, we find that the average amount you’ll pay to get a bachelor’s degree from SHSU is $105,667. Graduating sooner can prevent you from having to pay more money out of pocket.

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#8

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas

With a ranking of #8, University of North Texas did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for the Money in Texas list. UNT is a large public school situated in Denton, Texas. It awarded 7,639 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.

It takes about 4.5 years for the average student at UNT to complete their degree, and it costs students who receive no aid about $25,012 per year to attend the school. Thus, the average cost to get a bachelor’s degree from the UNT is $113,554. Graduating sooner can prevent you from having to pay more money out of pocket.

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With a ranking of #9, The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for the Money in Texas list. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a large public school located in San Antonio, Texas that handed out 5,655 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.

The average student at UTSA graduates in less than 4.7 years, and the estimated yearly cost for the school is $20,010 for students who receive no aid. Thus, the average cost to get a bachelor’s degree from the UTSA is $94,047. Graduating sooner can prevent you from having to pay more money out of pocket.

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The University of Texas at Tyler came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Texas ranking. UT Tyler is a public institution located in Tyler, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,904 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.

It takes about 4.5 years for the average student at UT Tyler to complete their degree, and on average, the annual cost to attend the school is $22,316 for students who receive no aid. Thus, the average cost to get a bachelor’s degree from the UT Tyler is $100,868. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.

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#11

Texas Woman's University

Denton, Texas

With a ranking of #11, Texas Woman’s University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for the Money in Texas list. TWU is located in Denton, Texas and has a fairly large student population. In 2018-2019, this school awarded 2,061 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

It takes about 4.6 years for the average student at TWU to complete their degree, and on average, the annual cost to attend the school is $21,032 for students who receive no aid. Thus, the average cost to get a bachelor’s degree from the TWU is $97,168. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.

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#12

Stephen F Austin State University

Nacogdoches, Texas

With a ranking of #12, Stephen F Austin State University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for the Money in Texas list. Stephen F Austin State University is a fairly large public school located in Nacogdoches, Texas that handed out 2,231 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.

At SFASU, the average time it takes a student to graduate is 4.4 years, and the estimated yearly cost for the school is $22,732 for students who receive no aid. Putting this cost and the average time to graduate together, we find that the average amount you’ll pay to get a bachelor’s degree from SFASU is $100,930. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.

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#13

Midwestern State University

Wichita Falls, Texas

Midwestern State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Texas ranking. Located in Wichita Falls, Texas, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,201 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2018-2019.

The average amount of time it takes for a student to receive their degree at MSU is 4.7 years, and the estimated yearly cost for the school is $21,690 for students who receive no aid. Putting this cost and the average time to graduate together, we find that the average amount you’ll pay to get a bachelor’s degree from MSU is $101,292. The sooner a student graduates, the more money they can save.

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With a ranking of #14, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for the Money in Texas list. Located in Edinburg, Texas, the large public school handed out 4,519 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.

The average amount of time it takes for a student to receive their degree at UT Rio Grande Valley is 4.7 years, and on average, the annual cost to attend the school is $20,946 for students who receive no aid. When we combine these numbers, we estimate that the cost to get a bachelor’s degree from UT Rio Grande Valley is $98,656. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.

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#15

West Texas A&M University

Canyon, Texas

West Texas A&M University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Texas ranking. West Texas A&M University is a public institution located in Canyon, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,746 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.

It takes the average student at West Texas A&M University about 4.4 years to graduate, and on average, the annual cost to attend the school is $21,485 for students who receive no aid. Looking at these numbers together, we estimate that the average cost of a bachelor’s degree from West Texas A&M University is about $94,964. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.

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The University of Texas of the Permian Basin came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Texas ranking. UT Permian Basin is a medium-sized public school situated in Odessa, Texas. It awarded 910 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.

The average amount of time it takes for a student to receive their degree at UT Permian Basin is 4.6 years, and the average full-time cost to attend the school for students who receive no aid is around $21,142. Putting this cost and the average time to graduate together, we find that the average amount you’ll pay to get a bachelor’s degree from UT Permian Basin is $96,830. When you graduate sooner, you can save a lot of money.

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#17

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, Texas

Tarleton State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in Texas list. Located in Stephenville, Texas, the fairly large public school awarded 2,530 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2018-2019.

It takes the average student at Tarleton about 4.5 years to graduate, and the average full-time cost to attend the school for students who receive no aid is around $22,730. This makes the estimated cost of a bachelor’s degree from Tarleton be around $101,830. The sooner a student graduates, the more money they can save.

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With a ranking of #18, Texas A&M International University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for the Money in Texas list. Located in Laredo, Texas, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,211 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.

The average amount of time it takes for a student to receive their degree at Texas A&M International University is 4.6 years, and it costs students who receive no aid about $18,994 per year to attend the school. Looking at these numbers together, we estimate that the average cost of a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M International University is about $86,613. When you graduate sooner, you can save a lot of money.

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With a ranking of #19, The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for the Money in Texas list. This large public school is located in Arlington, Texas, and it awarded 8,906 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.

It takes about 4.7 years for the average student at UT Arlington to complete their degree, and the yearly average cost to attend the school is $27,280 for students who receive no aid. Thus, the average cost to get a bachelor’s degree from the UT Arlington is $127,125. When you graduate sooner, you can save a lot of money.

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With a ranking of #20, Texas A&M University - Commerce did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for the Money in Texas list. Commerce, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,862 students in 2018-2019.

It takes about 4.5 years for the average student at Texas A&M Commerce to complete their degree, and the average full-time cost to attend the school for students who receive no aid is around $23,191. This makes the estimated cost of a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M Commerce be around $104,591. When students graduate in a lesser amount of time, they can save thousands of dollars.

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University of North Texas at Dallas did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges in Texas ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Dallas, Texas, the small public school awarded 561 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2018-2019.

It takes the average student at UNTD about 4.4 years to graduate, and it costs students who receive no aid about $23,014 per year to attend the school. This means that the average student pays around $102,182 to get a bachelor’s degree from UNTD. When you graduate sooner, you can save a lot of money.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

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#22

Angelo State University

San Angelo, Texas

Angelo State University did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges in Texas ranking, coming in at #22. Angelo State is a public institution located in San Angelo, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,107 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.

The average amount of time it takes for a student to receive their degree at Angelo State is 4.5 years, and the estimated yearly cost for the school is $21,247 for students who receive no aid. Thus, the average cost to get a bachelor’s degree from the Angelo State is $94,974. When students graduate in a lesser amount of time, they can save thousands of dollars.

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#23

Rice University

Houston, Texas

Rice University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Texas ranking. Rice is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 1,228 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.

The average amount of time it takes for a student to receive their degree at Rice is 4.1 years, and it costs students who receive no aid about $67,102 per year to attend the school. When we combine these numbers, we estimate that the cost to get a bachelor’s degree from Rice is $275,789. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.

The student-to-faculty rate of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Rice also took the #1 spot in our Best Colleges in Texas rankings.

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#24

University of St. Thomas

Houston, Texas

With a ranking of #24, University of St. Thomas did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for the Money in Texas list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 329 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.

It takes the average student at UST about 4.5 years to graduate, and the average full-time cost to attend the school for students who receive no aid is around $45,756. This means that the average student pays around $204,987 to get a bachelor’s degree from UST. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. UST excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Colleges in Texas list.

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#25

Trinity University

San Antonio, Texas

With a ranking of #25, Trinity University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for the Money in Texas list. Trinity U is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Antonio, Texas. It awarded 617 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.

The average student at Trinity U graduates in less than 4.2 years, and on average, the annual cost to attend the school is $60,664 for students who receive no aid. This makes the estimated cost of a bachelor’s degree from Trinity U be around $252,969. When students graduate in a lesser amount of time, they can save thousands of dollars.

The student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Trinity U also took the #3 spot in our Best Colleges in Texas rankings.

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • For our state-specific rankings, we use in-state tuition to calculate average cost. For our national and regional rankings, we use a weighted average of in-state and non-resident tuition.

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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