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2024 Best Colleges in Texas

115 Colleges
$51,713 Avg Salary*
46% Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*

It's not easy to decide which college to attend when you have so many options available. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Texas Colleges ranking - to help you make that decision.

After analyzing 115 schools in Texas, we came up with our list of those that offered the highest quality education. Our ranking is based on over 20 objective factors, including post graduate earnings, freshman retention, and graduation rate. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another.

Get more details on our ranking methodology.

Custom Rankings

Since one ranking on its own is not enough to give you a complete understanding of your educational options, you can refine this list by location and field of study. We've also developed a number of other tools and rankings based on other factors. These other rankings highlight colleges that excel in other factors such as value or diversity as well as schools that excel in serving different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.

Associate Degree Rankings Undergrad Rankings
Bachelor's Degree Rankings Undergrad Rankings
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You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering!

Top Colleges in Texas

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

1
Rice crest
Rice University
Houston, Texas

Our 2024 rankings named Rice University the best school in Texas in terms of overall quality for students working on their bachelor’s degree.Houston, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,500 students in 2020-2021.

The impressive student-to-faculty rate of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $77,683 during the early years of their career..

Full Rice University Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas at Austin. The school came in at #2 in Texas on this year’s overall quality ranking. Located in Austin, Texas, the large public school awarded 17,613 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 2.3% 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% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $67,839 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on The University of Texas at Austin

3

The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Texas A&M University - College Station helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Texas. Located in College Station, Texas, the large public school handed out 19,908 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $66,566 during the early years of their career..

Full Texas A&M University - College Station Report

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Methodist University. The school came in at #4 in Texas on this year’s overall quality ranking.Dallas, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 4,258 students in 2020-2021.

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% During the early years of their career, graduates from SMU make an average of $72,514 a year.

Read More…

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas Christian University. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Colleges in Texas list. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Fort Worth, Texas, and it awarded 3,058 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from TCU make an average of $61,325 per year during the early years of their career.

Read More…

6
Lee College crest
Lee College
Baytown, Texas

With a ranking of #6, Lee College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Texas list. Located in Baytown, Texas, the medium-sized public school handed out 3,684 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Lee College make an average of $37,624 a year.

Full Lee College Report

7

Baylor University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges in Texas list. Baylor is a private not-for-profit institution located in Waco, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5,321 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $60,512 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on Baylor University

8

With a ranking of #8, Texas State Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Texas list. Located in Waco, Texas, the fairly large public school awarded 2,789 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $35,542 during the early years of their career..

Read More…

9
Texas Tech crest
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Texas ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Lubbock, Texas, the large public school handed out 9,710 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech make an average of $58,435 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Texas Tech University Report

10
UH crest
University of Houston
Houston, Texas

With a ranking of #10, University of Houston did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Texas list. UH is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11,581 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UH make an average of $56,763 per year during the early years of their career.

Read More…

11

With a ranking of #11, The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Texas list.Richardson, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 8,460 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UT Dallas make an average of $60,595 per year during the early years of their career.

Read More…

12

Lamar Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Texas ranking, coming in at #12. Lamar Institute of Technology is a small public school located in Beaumont, Texas that handed out 862 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Lamar Institute of Technology go into careers with an average salary of $43,410 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

13
Central Texas College crest
Central Texas College
Killeen, Texas

Central Texas College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Texas ranking. Central Texas College is located in Killeen, Texas and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,323 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Central Texas College go into careers with an average salary of $34,775 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Central Texas College

14

University of North Texas came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Texas ranking. Located in Denton, Texas, the large public school handed out 10,800 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from UNT make an average of $51,232 a year.

Full University of North Texas Report

15

With a ranking of #15, The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Texas list. The University of Texas at Arlington is a large public school located in Arlington, Texas that handed out 14,417 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UT Arlington is $54,633 during the early years of their career.

Full The University of Texas at Arlington Report

16
Trinity U crest
Trinity University
San Antonio, Texas

Trinity University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Texas ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 798 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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. During the early years of their career, graduates from Trinity U make an average of $65,315 a year.

Read More…

17

Houston Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Texas ranking.Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 6,693 students in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $37,512 during the early years of their career..

Full Houston Community College Report

18
El Centro College crest
El Centro College
Dallas, Texas

El Centro College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Texas ranking. El Centro College is a public institution located in Dallas, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12,775 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from El Centro College make an average of $37,543 a year.

Read More…

19
Northwest Vista College crest
Northwest Vista College
San Antonio, Texas

Northwest Vista College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Colleges in Texas list.San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,838 students in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Northwest Vista College make an average of $40,280 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Northwest Vista College

20
Texas State crest
Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Texas ranking. Texas State University is a large public school located in San Marcos, Texas that handed out 9,313 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Texas State is $50,671 during the early years of their career.

Full Texas State University Report

21

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Texas ranking.Edinburg, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 6,962 students in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 0.7% 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% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UT Rio Grande Valley is $45,895 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

22

Collin County Community College District ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges in Texas list. Collin County Community College District is a large public school located in McKinney, Texas that handed out 5,703 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Collin County Community College District is $44,658 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Collin County Community College District

23

McLennan Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Texas ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Waco, Texas, and it awarded 1,886 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from MCC make an average of $35,523 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on McLennan Community College

24

With a ranking of #24, Wayland Baptist University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Texas list. Wayland Baptist University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Plainview, Texas that handed out 1,321 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Wayland Baptist University make an average of $45,166 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Wayland Baptist University Report

25

The University of Texas at San Antonio ranked #25 on this year’s Best Colleges in Texas list.San Antonio, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 8,095 students in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UTSA go into careers with an average salary of $50,810 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on The University of Texas at San Antonio

Best Colleges in the Southwest Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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