by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Texas, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **56** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 56 graduate schools 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.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Texas. Located 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $76,328 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,889.
A rank of #2 makes Rice University one of the top graduate schools in Texas. Set in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Rice University students take on a median of $11,904 in debt.
The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Texas. Based in Houston, TX, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,748, compared with $43,132 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $101,165. Graduates carry a median of $21,988 in student loans.
Out of the 56 graduate schools in Texas in this year's ranking, The University Of Texas Medical Branch landed the #4 spot. Based in Galveston, TX, The University Of Texas Medical Branch is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,402, compared with $28,011 for out-of-state students. The University Of Texas Medical Branch graduates report median early-career earnings of $79,793. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at The University Of Texas At Austin, which ranked #5 this year. This public school is set in Austin, TX. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,819 early in their careers. The University Of Texas At Austin students take on a median of $21,275 in debt.
Southern Methodist University placed #6 among the best graduate schools in Texas. This private not-for-profit school is set in Dallas, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. In-state tuition and fees average $67,040. Southern Methodist University graduates report median early-career earnings of $70,632. Typical student debt is $20,712.
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #7 spot in Texas this year. Based in College Station, TX, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Texas A And M University College Station posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Texas A And M University College Station graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,891. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete a degree here.
Baylor University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Based in Waco, TX, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,100. Median early-career earnings reach $49,888. Baylor University students take on a median of $23,928 in debt.
The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio did well this year, earning the #9 position. This public school is set in San Antonio, TX. Students from in state pay about $10,991 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,776 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $89,151 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,247 to complete a degree here.
Texas Christian University landed the #10 spot in Texas this year. Based 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%. Students from in state pay about $61,740 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,035 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $22,960.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in El Paso, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,050, compared with $27,170 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $73,235. Graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
The University Of Texas At Dallas ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a public school based in Richardson, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Students from in state pay about $14,644 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,144 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,507. Typical student debt is $20,531.
University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center came in at #13 in this year's ranking. University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center is a public school based in Dallas, TX. Graduates go on to earn a median of $76,007 early in their careers.
Parker University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Dallas, TX, Parker University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Students from in state pay about $26,904 in tuition and fees. Parker University graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,758. Students borrow a median of $23,988 to complete a degree here.
University Of Houston came in at #15 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Houston, TX. University Of Houston graduates 65% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,529 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,255 to complete a degree here.
Baylor College Of Medicine placed #16 among the best graduate schools in Texas. Set in Houston, TX, Baylor College Of Medicine is a private not-for-profit institution. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $110,751.
The University Of Texas At Arlington ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Arlington, TX, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a public institution. The University Of Texas At Arlington posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,950, with out-of-state students paying around $29,582. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $55,304. Graduates carry a median of $21,632 in student loans.
University Of North Texas Health Science Center ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. University Of North Texas Health Science Center is a public school based in Fort Worth, TX. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,224, with out-of-state students paying around $24,415. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $71,255.
Texas Tech University landed the #19 spot in Texas this year. Based 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 run about $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,332 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans.
Texas Womans University landed the #20 spot in Texas this year. Set in Denton, TX, Texas Womans University is a public institution. Texas Womans University posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,640, compared with $18,480 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,611. The median student debt is $24,211.
University Of North Texas came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Located in Denton, TX, University Of North Texas is a public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $11,309 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,157. The median student debt is $21,817.
University Of Dallas landed the #22 spot in Texas this year. Located in Irving, TX, University Of Dallas is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,930. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,396. Students borrow a median of $23,411 to complete a degree here.
Dallas Theological Seminary ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Dallas, TX. Median early-career earnings reach $55,025.
The University Of Texas At Tyler did well this year, earning the #24 position. The University Of Texas At Tyler is a public school based in Tyler, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,512, with out-of-state students paying around $24,512. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,134 early in their careers. The University Of Texas At Tyler students take on a median of $20,959 in debt.
Abilene Christian University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Abilene, TX, Abilene Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Abilene Christian University graduates 59% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,200. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,463. Graduates carry a median of $23,772 in student loans.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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
See our data sources and methodologies.
