by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Texas, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **78** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 78 colleges across over 20 objective factors 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.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in Texas. This public school is set in Houston, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,748, compared with $43,132 for out-of-state students. The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston graduates report median early-career earnings of $101,165. Students borrow a median of $21,988 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 78 colleges in Texas in this year's ranking, Rice University landed the #2 spot. Based in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. Rice University posts a six-year graduation rate of 95%. In-state tuition and fees run about $61,247. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $75,299. The median student debt is $11,904.
Out of the 78 colleges in Texas in this year's ranking, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center landed the #3 spot. Based in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,214, with out-of-state students paying around $22,514. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $76,328. Typical student debt is $24,889.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Texas. This public school is set in College Station, TX. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Texas A And M University College Station graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,891. Texas A And M University College Station students take on a median of $20,031 in debt.
The strong outcomes at The University Of Texas At Austin earned it the #5 place in Texas. Located in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. The University Of Texas At Austin posts a six-year graduation rate of 89%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,819. Typical student debt is $21,275.
The University Of Texas Medical Branch landed the #6 spot in Texas this year. Located in Galveston, TX, The University Of Texas Medical Branch is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,402, while out-of-state students pay about $28,011. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $79,793. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete a degree here.
Southern Methodist University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Dallas, TX. Southern Methodist University posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. In-state tuition and fees average $67,040. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,632. Graduates carry a median of $20,712 in student loans.
Texas Christian University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fort Worth, TX. Texas Christian University posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. Students from in state pay about $61,740 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $60,035. Students borrow a median of $22,960 to complete a degree here.
The University Of Texas Md Anderson Cancer Center landed the #9 spot in Texas this year. Set in Houston, TX, The University Of Texas Md Anderson Cancer Center is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,511, while out-of-state students pay about $23,731. Graduates go on to earn a median of $79,657 early in their careers. The median student debt is $20,667.
Baylor University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Waco, TX, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. Baylor University posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. Students from in state pay about $58,100 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,888. Students borrow a median of $23,928 to complete a degree here.
Trinity University landed the #11 spot in Texas this year. Located in San Antonio, TX, Trinity University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,676. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,496 early in their careers. The median student debt is $23,314.
The University Of Texas At Dallas did well this year, earning the #12 position. Set in Richardson, TX, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $14,644, compared with $40,144 for out-of-state students. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates report median early-career earnings of $58,507. Typical student debt is $20,531.
The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio placed #13 among the best colleges in Texas. This public school is set in San Antonio, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, compared with $27,776 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $89,151. Students borrow a median of $20,247 to complete a degree here.
Texas Tech University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Lubbock, TX. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Texas Tech University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,332. Graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans.
University Of Houston ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. University Of Houston is a public school based in Houston, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. University Of Houston graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,529. The median student debt is $21,255.
The University Of Texas At Arlington did well this year, earning the #16 position. Set in Arlington, TX, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,950, while out-of-state students pay about $29,582. Median early-career earnings reach $55,304. Graduates carry a median of $21,632 in student loans.
University Of North Texas landed the #17 spot in Texas this year. This public school is set in Denton, TX. University Of North Texas graduates 61% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,157. Graduates carry a median of $21,817 in student loans.
Texas Womans University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Texas Womans University is a public school based in Denton, TX. About 49% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,640 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,480 for out-of-state students. Texas Womans University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,611. Typical student debt is $24,211.
Texas State University San Marcos did well this year, earning the #19 position. Texas State University San Marcos is a public school based in San Marcos, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,456. Texas State University San Marcos students take on a median of $23,659 in debt.
University Of Dallas did well this year, earning the #20 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Irving, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. Students from in state pay about $53,930 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,396. Typical student debt is $23,411.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Texas placed #21 among the best colleges in Texas. This private for-profit school is set in Houston, TX. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Texas graduates 25% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $21,100 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $83,188. Typical student debt is $39,146.
Southwestern University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Southwestern University is a private not-for-profit school based in Georgetown, TX. Southwestern University graduates 73% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $53,613. Median early-career earnings reach $36,990. Graduates carry a median of $24,975 in student loans.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso is a public school based in El Paso, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,050, with out-of-state students paying around $27,170. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso graduates report median early-career earnings of $67,322. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso students take on a median of $25,000 in debt.
The University Of Texas At Tyler did well this year, earning the #24 position. Located in Tyler, TX, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a public institution. The University Of Texas At Tyler posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,512, compared with $24,512 for out-of-state students. The University Of Texas At Tyler graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,134. The University Of Texas At Tyler students take on a median of $20,959 in debt.
University Of Houston Clear Lake ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. University Of Houston Clear Lake is a public school based in Houston, TX. University Of Houston Clear Lake graduates 52% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,346, with out-of-state students paying around $22,290. Median early-career earnings reach $51,252. Graduates carry a median of $21,100 in student loans.
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. The methodology weighs 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.
