by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Texas, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **26** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 26 graduate schools 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.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Texas. The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston is a public school based in Houston, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,748, with out-of-state students paying around $43,132. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $101,165. The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston students take on a median of $21,988 in debt.
The strong outcomes at The University Of Texas Medical Branch earned it the #2 place in Texas. The University Of Texas Medical Branch is a public school based in Galveston, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $12,402, while out-of-state students pay about $28,011. Median early-career earnings reach $79,793. Graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
Out of the 26 graduate schools in Texas in this year's ranking, Rice University landed the #3 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Houston, TX. Rice University graduates 95% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $61,247. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $75,299. Rice University students take on a median of $11,904 in debt.
A rank of #4 makes Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center one of the top graduate schools in Texas. Set in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,214 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,514. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $76,328. The median student debt is $24,889.
The strong outcomes at Texas A And M University College Station earned it the #5 place in Texas. This public school is set in College Station, TX. Texas A And M University College Station posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $64,891. Typical student debt is $20,031.
The University Of Texas At Austin did well this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in Austin, TX. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,819. Graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans.
The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio did well this year, earning the #7 position. This public school is set in San Antonio, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,991, with out-of-state students paying around $27,776. The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio graduates report median early-career earnings of $89,151. Students borrow a median of $20,247 to complete a degree here.
Southern Methodist University placed #8 among the best graduate schools in Texas. Set in Dallas, TX, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $67,040. Southern Methodist University graduates report median early-career earnings of $70,632. The median student debt is $20,712.
Baylor University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Waco, TX, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. Baylor University graduates 80% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $58,100 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $49,888. Students borrow a median of $23,928 to complete a degree here.
Texas Christian University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Fort Worth, TX, Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Texas Christian University posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. In-state tuition and fees average $61,740. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,035. The median student debt is $22,960.
University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center landed the #11 spot in Texas this year. University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center is a public school based in Dallas, TX. Median early-career earnings reach $76,007.
The University Of Texas At Dallas ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Richardson, TX, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a public institution. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates 76% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,644, compared with $40,144 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,507. Graduates carry a median of $20,531 in student loans.
Texas Tech University landed the #13 spot in Texas this year. Located in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Texas Tech University posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,332. Typical student debt is $24,271.
University Of Houston landed the #14 spot in Texas this year. This public school is set in Houston, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,529. University Of Houston students take on a median of $21,255 in debt.
Baylor College Of Medicine did well this year, earning the #15 position. Based in Houston, TX, Baylor College Of Medicine is a private not-for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $110,751.
The University Of Texas At Arlington landed the #16 spot in Texas this year. This public school is set in Arlington, TX. The University Of Texas At Arlington graduates 54% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,950, compared with $29,582 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $55,304. The median student debt is $21,632.
Texas Womans University placed #17 among the best graduate schools in Texas. Set in Denton, TX, Texas Womans University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,640, while out-of-state students pay about $18,480. Texas Womans University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,611. Students borrow a median of $24,211 to complete a degree here.
University Of North Texas landed the #18 spot in Texas this year. University Of North Texas is a public school based in Denton, TX. University Of North Texas graduates 61% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,157 early in their careers. The median student debt is $21,817.
University Of Dallas did well this year, earning the #19 position. Based in Irving, TX, University Of Dallas is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. In-state tuition and fees average $53,930. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,396. Graduates carry a median of $23,411 in student loans.
Saint Edwards University placed #20 among the best graduate schools in Texas. Based in Austin, TX, Saint Edwards University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,384. Saint Edwards University graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,054. Typical student debt is $25,059.
University Of North Texas Health Science Center came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Based in Fort Worth, TX, University Of North Texas Health Science Center is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,224 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,415. University Of North Texas Health Science Center graduates report median early-career earnings of $71,255.
Dallas Theological Seminary ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Dallas, TX, Dallas Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,025 early in their careers.
Texas State University San Marcos ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in San Marcos, TX, Texas State University San Marcos is a public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,456 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,659 to complete a degree here.
Abilene Christian University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Abilene Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Abilene, TX. About 59% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $44,200. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,463. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete a degree here.
The University Of Texas At Tyler did well this year, earning the #25 position. Set in Tyler, TX, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Students from in state pay about $9,512 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,512. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,134 early in their careers. The median student debt is $20,959.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
