by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in Texas, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks 335 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed graduate schools using more than 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.
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Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Leading the list is The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston, our #1 graduate school 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, with out-of-state students paying around $43,132. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $101,165. Students borrow a median of $21,988 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 335 graduate schools in Texas in this year's ranking, Rice University landed the #2 spot. Based in Houston, TX, Rice University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $75,299. Graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans.
Out of the 335 graduate schools in Texas in this year's ranking, The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #3 spot. Located in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,688 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,819. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 335 graduate schools in Texas in this year's ranking, The University Of Texas Medical Branch landed the #4 spot. The University Of Texas Medical Branch is a public school based in Galveston, TX. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,402, with out-of-state students paying around $28,011. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $79,793. Graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at Texas A And M University College Station, which ranked #5 this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a public school based in College Station, TX. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $64,891. Typical student debt is $20,031.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,214, while out-of-state students pay about $22,514. Median early-career earnings reach $76,328. Graduates carry a median of $24,889 in student loans.
Texas Christian University placed #7 among the best graduate schools in Texas. Based in Fort Worth, TX, Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $61,740 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $60,035. Texas Christian University students take on a median of $22,960 in debt.
Southern Methodist University landed the #8 spot in Texas this year. Located in Dallas, TX, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. 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.
The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio placed #9 among the best graduate schools in Texas. 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $89,151. Graduates carry a median of $20,247 in student loans.
Baylor University landed the #10 spot in Texas this year. Based 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. Baylor University students take on a median of $23,928 in debt.
The University Of Texas Md Anderson Cancer Center placed #11 among the best graduate schools in Texas. The University Of Texas Md Anderson Cancer Center is a public school based in Houston, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $6,511, with out-of-state students paying around $23,731. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $79,657. Typical student debt is $20,667.
Trinity University placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Texas. Trinity University is a private not-for-profit school based in San Antonio, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,676. Early-career graduates earn a median of $57,496. The median student debt is $23,314.
The University Of Texas At Dallas landed the #13 spot in Texas this year. Located 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. 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. The median student debt is $20,531.
University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Dallas, TX, University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center is a public institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $76,007 early in their careers.
Texas Tech University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Based in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Texas Tech University graduates 69% of students within six years. 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. Typical student debt is $24,271.
University Of Houston did well this year, earning the #16 position. University Of Houston is a public school based in Houston, TX. University Of Houston posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. University Of Houston graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,529. Students borrow a median of $21,255 to complete a degree here.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso landed the #17 spot in Texas this year. Located in El Paso, TX, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,050, while out-of-state students pay about $27,170. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,322 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
The University Of Texas At Arlington did well this year, earning the #18 position. Set in Arlington, TX, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,950, with out-of-state students paying around $29,582. The University Of Texas At Arlington graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,304. Graduates carry a median of $21,632 in student loans.
Baylor College Of Medicine landed the #19 spot in Texas this year. Based in Houston, TX, Baylor College Of Medicine is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career graduates earn a median of $110,751.
University Of North Texas placed #20 among the best graduate schools in Texas. Located in Denton, TX, University Of North Texas is a public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. University Of North Texas graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,157. Students borrow a median of $21,817 to complete a degree here.
University Of Dallas landed the #21 spot in Texas this year. Located in Irving, TX, University Of Dallas is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Dallas graduates 73% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $53,930. University Of Dallas graduates report median early-career earnings of $58,396. University Of Dallas students take on a median of $23,411 in debt.
University Of North Texas Health Science Center did well this year, earning the #22 position. This public school is set in Fort Worth, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,224, compared with $24,415 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $71,255 early in their careers.
Brite Divinity School landed the #23 spot in Texas this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fort Worth, TX. Brite Divinity School graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,050.
Texas Womans University landed the #24 spot in Texas this year. Located 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, compared with $18,480 for out-of-state students. Texas Womans University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,611. The median student debt is $24,211.
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #25 in this year's ranking. 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.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Graduate schools are scored on 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.
