by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Texas, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights **54** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 54 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 The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston to be the best graduate school 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $101,165. Graduates carry a median of $21,988 in student loans.
Out of the 54 graduate schools in Texas in this year's ranking, Rice University landed the #2 spot. Set in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. Rice University graduates 95% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $61,247. Early-career graduates earn a median of $75,299. Typical student debt is $11,904.
The University Of Texas Medical Branch came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Texas. This public school is set in Galveston, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $12,402, with out-of-state students paying around $28,011. Early-career graduates earn a median of $79,793. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the top graduate schools in Texas. The University Of Texas At Austin is a public school based 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, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,819. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete a degree here.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Texas. Texas A And M University College Station is a public school based in College Station, TX. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $64,891. Texas A And M University College Station students take on a median of $20,031 in debt.
The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Set in San Antonio, TX, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,991 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,776 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $89,151. Typical student debt is $20,247.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center placed #7 among the best graduate schools in Texas. This public school is set in Lubbock, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $10,214, while out-of-state students pay about $22,514. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $76,328. Typical student debt is $24,889.
Baylor University ranked #8 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. In-state tuition and fees run about $58,100. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,888. The median student debt is $23,928.
Texas Christian University landed the #9 spot in Texas this year. Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fort Worth, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. Students from in state pay about $61,740 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $60,035. Typical student debt is $22,960.
Southern Methodist University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Dallas, TX, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,040. Early-career graduates earn a median of $70,632. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete a degree here.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso placed #11 among the best graduate schools in Texas. This public school is set in El Paso, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $14,050, while out-of-state students pay about $27,170. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso graduates report median early-career earnings of $67,322. Graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
The University Of Texas At Dallas placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Texas. Set in Richardson, TX, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,644, compared with $40,144 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,507. The University Of Texas At Dallas students take on a median of $20,531 in debt.
The University Of Texas Md Anderson Cancer Center placed #13 among the best graduate schools in Texas. Set in Houston, TX, The University Of Texas Md Anderson Cancer Center is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,511 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $23,731. Median early-career earnings reach $79,657. Typical student debt is $20,667.
Trinity University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Based in San Antonio, TX, Trinity University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,676. Early-career graduates earn a median of $57,496. Trinity University students take on a median of $23,314 in debt.
University Of Houston did well this year, earning the #15 position. This public school is set in Houston, TX. About 65% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $57,529. Typical student debt is $21,255.
Texas Tech University placed #16 among the best graduate schools in Texas. This public school is set in Lubbock, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,332. Texas Tech University students take on a median of $24,271 in debt.
The University Of Texas At Arlington did well this year, earning the #17 position. Set 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%. Students from in state pay about $11,950 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $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 Dallas placed #18 among the best graduate schools in Texas. Set 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,396. Typical student debt is $23,411.
University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center landed the #19 spot in Texas this year. This public school is set in Dallas, TX. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $76,007.
Brite Divinity School ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Fort Worth, TX, Brite Divinity School is a private not-for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $42,050.
University Of North Texas came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Set in Denton, TX, University Of North Texas is a public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Median early-career earnings reach $49,157. The median student debt is $21,817.
Texas Womans University placed #22 among the best graduate schools in Texas. This public school is set in Denton, TX. Texas Womans University graduates 49% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,640, while out-of-state students pay about $18,480. Texas Womans University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,611. Typical student debt is $24,211.
University Of North Texas Health Science Center placed #23 among the best graduate schools in Texas. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $71,255 early in their careers.
Amberton University did well this year, earning the #24 position. Amberton University is a private not-for-profit school based in Garland, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $9,060.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #25 among the best graduate schools in Texas. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,456. Typical student debt is $23,659.
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.
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
See our data sources and methodologies.
