by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Texas, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **86** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 86 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.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Our analysis found Rice University to be the best graduate school in Texas. Based in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,247. Early-career graduates earn a median of $75,299. Graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans.
Out of the 86 graduate schools in Texas in this year's ranking, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston landed the #2 spot. Set in Houston, TX, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,748, while out-of-state students pay about $43,132. Early-career graduates earn a median of $101,165. Graduates carry a median of $21,988 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at The University Of Texas At Austin earned it the #3 place in Texas. Located in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,819. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at The University Of Texas Medical Branch, which ranked #4 this year. This public school is set in Galveston, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,402, with out-of-state students paying around $28,011. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $79,793. Typical student debt is $23,250.
A rank of #5 makes Texas A And M University College Station one of the top graduate schools in Texas. Set in College Station, TX, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $64,891. Typical student debt is $20,031.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,214, compared with $22,514 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $76,328 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,889 in student loans.
Baylor University placed #7 among the best graduate schools in Texas. Set in Waco, TX, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. Baylor University posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,100. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,888. Graduates carry a median of $23,928 in student loans.
The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio landed the #8 spot in Texas this year. Set in San Antonio, TX, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, compared with $27,776 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $89,151. Graduates carry a median of $20,247 in student loans.
Texas Christian University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Fort Worth, TX, Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,740. Texas Christian University graduates report median early-career earnings of $60,035. Typical student debt is $22,960.
Southern Methodist University did well this year, earning the #10 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Dallas, TX. Southern Methodist University posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,040. Median early-career earnings reach $70,632. Graduates carry a median of $20,712 in student loans.
The University Of Texas At Dallas ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Richardson, TX, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a public institution. The University Of Texas At Dallas posts a six-year graduation rate of 76%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,644, while out-of-state students pay about $40,144. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,507. Students borrow a median of $20,531 to complete a degree here.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in El Paso, TX, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,050, while out-of-state students pay about $27,170. Graduates go on to earn a median of $73,235 early in their careers. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso students take on a median of $25,000 in debt.
Trinity University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in San Antonio, TX, Trinity University is a private not-for-profit institution. Trinity University graduates 84% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,676. Median early-career earnings reach $57,496. Graduates carry a median of $23,314 in student loans.
West Coast University Los Angeles landed the #14 spot in Texas this year. Located in Richardson, TX, West Coast University Los Angeles is a private for-profit institution. West Coast University Los Angeles graduates 31% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $36,854 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $92,600. Students borrow a median of $37,140 to complete a degree here.
The University Of Texas Md Anderson Cancer Center ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. The University Of Texas Md Anderson Cancer Center is a public school based in Houston, TX. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Graduates carry a median of $20,667 in student loans.
University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Dallas, TX, University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center is a public institution. Early-career graduates earn a median of $76,007.
University Of Houston came in at #17 in this year's ranking. University Of Houston is a public school based in Houston, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. University Of Houston graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,529. Graduates carry a median of $21,255 in student loans.
The University Of Texas At Arlington came in at #18 in this year's ranking. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a public school based in Arlington, TX. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. The median student debt is $21,632.
Texas Tech University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Lubbock, TX. Texas Tech University posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Texas Tech University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,332. Texas Tech University students take on a median of $24,271 in debt.
University Of Dallas came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Located in Irving, TX, University Of Dallas is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,930. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,396. Graduates carry a median of $23,411 in student loans.
The University Of Texas At Tyler did well this year, earning the #21 position. The University Of Texas At Tyler is a public school based in Tyler, TX. The University Of Texas At Tyler graduates 54% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,512, compared with $24,512 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $55,134. The University Of Texas At Tyler students take on a median of $20,959 in debt.
University Of North Texas Health Science Center ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Fort Worth, TX, University Of North Texas Health Science Center is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,224, 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.
University Of North Texas landed the #23 spot in Texas this year. University Of North Texas is a public school based in Denton, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,157. University Of North Texas students take on a median of $21,817 in debt.
Texas Womans University placed #24 among the best graduate schools in Texas. Located in Denton, TX, Texas Womans University is a public institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,640, compared with $18,480 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,611 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,211 in student loans.
Baylor College Of Medicine placed #25 among the best graduate schools in Texas. Located in Houston, TX, Baylor College Of Medicine is a private not-for-profit institution. Baylor College Of Medicine graduates report median early-career earnings of $110,751.
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.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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
See our data sources and methodologies.
