by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Texas, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **58** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 58 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Collin County Community College District tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges in Texas. Collin County Community College District is a public school based in McKinney, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $2,014, with out-of-state students paying around $6,064. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,177 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $9,716 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at Austin Community College District earned it the #2 place in Texas. Set in Austin, TX, Austin Community College District is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $14,519 in student loans.
A rank of #3 makes Texas State Technical College one of the top colleges in Texas. Located in Waco, TX, Texas State Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,212, with out-of-state students paying around $11,812. Texas State Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,747. Students borrow a median of $12,953 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 58 colleges in Texas in this year's ranking, Alvin Community College landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Alvin, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $1,906, while out-of-state students pay about $4,402. Early-career graduates earn a median of $55,057. Alvin Community College students take on a median of $8,600 in debt.
Out of the 58 colleges in Texas in this year's ranking, Lee College landed the #5 spot. Located in Baytown, TX, Lee College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,520 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,045. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,448 early in their careers. Lee College students take on a median of $10,941 in debt.
University Of St Thomas Texas landed the #6 spot in Texas this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Houston, TX. University Of St Thomas Texas graduates 69% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $34,634 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,265. The median student debt is $23,628.
Brazosport College placed #7 among the best colleges in Texas. This public school is set in Lake Jackson, TX. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,388, while out-of-state students pay about $4,711. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $32,746. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete a degree here.
Galen College Of Nursing San Antonio ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in San Antonio, TX, Galen College Of Nursing San Antonio is a private for-profit institution. Galen College Of Nursing San Antonio graduates 50% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,048. Median early-career earnings reach $63,726. The median student debt is $32,425.
Tarrant County College District landed the #9 spot in Texas this year. This public school is set in Fort Worth, TX. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,158. Graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans.
Tarleton State University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Stephenville, TX. Tarleton State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 48%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,302, compared with $18,142 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,532. Graduates carry a median of $23,222 in student loans.
Lamar Institute Of Technology came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Based in Beaumont, TX, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,844 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,924 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,068. Lamar Institute Of Technology students take on a median of $14,278 in debt.
San Jacinto Community College landed the #12 spot in Texas this year. This public school is set in Pasadena, TX. Students from in state pay about $2,490 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Median early-career earnings reach $38,107. Graduates carry a median of $11,376 in student loans.
El Centro College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Dallas, TX, El Centro College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. The median student debt is $14,557.
Parker University placed #14 among the best colleges in Texas. Parker University is a private not-for-profit school based in Dallas, TX. About 50% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,904. Parker University graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,758. Graduates carry a median of $23,988 in student loans.
Dallas Baptist University landed the #15 spot in Texas this year. Located in Dallas, TX, Dallas Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Dallas Baptist University graduates 58% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $40,190 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,822 early in their careers. The median student debt is $22,819.
Lone Star College System placed #16 among the best colleges in Texas. This public school is set in The Woodlands, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $2,664, compared with $7,512 for out-of-state students. Lone Star College System graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,954. The median student debt is $10,425.
Wharton County Junior College did well this year, earning the #17 position. Set in Wharton, TX, Wharton County Junior College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,192, with out-of-state students paying around $5,904. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,554 early in their careers. The median student debt is $10,916.
College Of The Mainland came in at #18 in this year's ranking. College Of The Mainland is a public school based in Texas City, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $2,310, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,788. The median student debt is $10,928.
Central Texas College landed the #19 spot in Texas this year. This public school is set in Killeen, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,750, with out-of-state students paying around $7,500. Central Texas College graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,086. Graduates carry a median of $11,290 in student loans.
Blinn College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Brenham, TX, Blinn College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,890, with out-of-state students paying around $11,370. Median early-career earnings reach $43,408. Blinn College students take on a median of $16,465 in debt.
Wayland Baptist University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Based in Plainview, TX, Wayland Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 19% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,782. Median early-career earnings reach $51,930. Wayland Baptist University students take on a median of $30,204 in debt.
Galen Health Institutes Austin Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Round Rock, TX, Galen Health Institutes Austin Campus is a private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,048. Median early-career earnings reach $63,726. Typical student debt is $32,425.
Midland College placed #23 among the best colleges in Texas. Set in Midland, TX, Midland College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,180, compared with $6,180 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,454. Graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans.
Weatherford College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Weatherford, TX, Weatherford College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,250, while out-of-state students pay about $10,860. Median early-career earnings reach $48,208. Typical student debt is $14,099.
Amarillo College did well this year, earning the #25 position. Set in Amarillo, TX, Amarillo College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,136, while out-of-state students pay about $4,704. Median early-career earnings reach $41,053. Typical student debt is $15,720.
These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Colleges are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.