# Best Colleges in Texas

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-texas

## Methodology

Composite score for institutions in Texas

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Texas is home to a diverse array of colleges, each offering unique opportunities and challenges. With 50 institutions on this list, families are evaluating their options based on key factors like graduation rates, earnings, and student debt. Understanding these elements can help students make informed decisions about their future.

What sets the higher-performing schools apart from the rest? It boils down to a few critical outcomes: how much graduates earn, their chances of completing their degree, the level of student debt they incur, and their mobility after college. The list below highlights schools that excel in these areas, providing a clearer picture of where students might find success.

Take Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin, for example. Rice boasts impressive earnings of $89,718 and a graduation rate of 95%, while UT Austin has earnings of $75,121 with an 88% graduation rate. This difference in earnings may reflect the distinct career paths and support systems available at each institution, giving students valuable insights as they consider their choices.

## Key Findings

- Rice University graduates earn $89,718 on average, the highest on this list.
- The University of Texas at Austin has a solid graduation rate of 88%, making it a strong contender.
- Texas A&M University-College Station has a net price of $21,315, which is higher than others like University of Houston at $14,276.
- The average earnings across these institutions are $53,228, showing that a degree can significantly impact financial stability.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Rice University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rice-university) | Houston, TX | 95% | $89,718 | $13,370 | $11,000 | 0.12x |
| 2 | [The University of Texas at Austin](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-austin) | Austin, TX | 88% | $75,121 | $19,857 | $20,500 | 0.27x |
| 3 | [Trinity University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/trinity-university) | San Antonio, TX | 83% | $71,668 | $23,464 | $22,954 | 0.32x |
| 4 | [The University of Texas at Dallas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-dallas) | Richardson, TX | 75% | $68,227 | $18,267 | $18,000 | 0.26x |
| 5 | [The University of Texas at Tyler](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-tyler) | Tyler, TX | 51% | $57,053 | $13,323 | $17,137 | 0.3x |
| 6 | [Texas Woman's University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-womans-university) | Denton, TX | 47% | $56,544 | $11,963 | $19,218 | 0.34x |
| 7 | [East Texas A&M University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/east-texas-am-university) | Commerce, TX | 44% | $50,296 | $11,841 | $20,500 | 0.41x |
| 8 | [University of North Texas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-texas) | Denton, TX | 60% | $57,010 | $15,649 | $19,250 | 0.34x |
| 9 | [The University of Texas Permian Basin](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-permian-basin) | Odessa, TX | 42% | $56,073 | $12,723 | $17,750 | 0.32x |
| 10 | [The University of Texas at Arlington](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-arlington) | Arlington, TX | 55% | $63,199 | $13,951 | $17,527 | 0.28x |
| 11 | [Western Texas College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-texas-college) | Snyder, TX | 56% | $42,508 | $3,562 | $7,515 | 0.18x |
| 12 | [Texas Christian University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-christian-university) | Fort Worth, TX | 86% | $68,424 | $36,660 | $21,500 | 0.31x |
| 13 | [Texas State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-state-university) | San Marcos, TX | 56% | $56,906 | $16,805 | $21,000 | 0.37x |
| 14 | [Austin College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/austin-college) | Sherman, TX | 68% | $61,296 | $21,107 | $24,500 | 0.4x |
| 15 | [Texas A&M University-College Station](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-am-university-college-station) | College Station, TX | 84% | $72,097 | $21,315 | $17,804 | 0.25x |
| 16 | [Sam Houston State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sam-houston-state-university) | Huntsville, TX | 55% | $54,211 | $16,404 | $21,983 | 0.41x |
| 17 | [The University of Texas at San Antonio](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-san-antonio) | San Antonio, TX | 52% | $57,131 | $10,836 | $20,500 | 0.36x |
| 18 | [Texas Tech University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-tech-university) | Lubbock, TX | 68% | $62,454 | $19,070 | $21,500 | 0.34x |
| 19 | [Lamar University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lamar-university) | Beaumont, TX | 37% | $49,652 | $9,366 | $21,250 | 0.43x |
| 20 | [Angelo State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/angelo-state-university) | San Angelo, TX | 42% | $50,116 | $15,091 | $20,000 | 0.4x |
| 21 | [Stephen F Austin State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/stephen-f-austin-state-university) | Nacogdoches, TX | 53% | $49,634 | $14,260 | $23,409 | 0.47x |
| 22 | [Southern Methodist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-methodist-university) | Dallas, TX | 84% | $78,354 | $40,892 | $19,500 | 0.25x |
| 23 | [University of Dallas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-dallas) | Irving, TX | 70% | $58,285 | $22,610 | $23,117 | 0.4x |
| 24 | [Concordia University Texas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/concordia-university-texas) | Austin, TX | 42% | $60,883 | $23,131 | $21,852 | 0.36x |
| 25 | [Brazosport College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brazosport-college) | Lake Jackson, TX | 47% | $45,910 | $4,732 | $5,641 | 0.12x |
| 26 | [The University of Texas at El Paso](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-el-paso) | El Paso, TX | 48% | $50,923 | $9,403 | $18,000 | 0.35x |
| 27 | [Midwestern State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/midwestern-state-university) | Wichita Falls, TX | 42% | $55,747 | $11,656 | $21,030 | 0.38x |
| 28 | [Temple College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/temple-college) | Temple, TX | 29% | $38,678 | $10,682 | $12,813 | 0.33x |
| 29 | [North Central Texas College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-central-texas-college) | Gainesville, TX | 35% | $45,809 | $6,587 | $11,250 | 0.25x |
| 30 | [Northeast Texas Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northeast-texas-community-college) | Mount Pleasant, TX | 46% | $37,870 | $6,706 | $10,946 | 0.29x |
| 31 | [Wharton County Junior College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wharton-county-junior-college) | Wharton, TX | 24% | $44,960 | $4,666 | $7,703 | 0.17x |
| 32 | [Tarleton State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tarleton-state-university) | Stephenville, TX | 50% | $53,040 | $20,783 | $19,606 | 0.37x |
| 33 | [Baylor University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/baylor-university) | Waco, TX | 80% | $65,793 | $41,104 | $23,000 | 0.35x |
| 34 | [Amarillo College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/amarillo-college) | Amarillo, TX | 31% | $41,302 | $4,600 | $15,000 | 0.36x |
| 35 | [Odessa College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/odessa-college) | Odessa, TX | 32% | $42,026 | $6,368 | $7,750 | 0.18x |
| 36 | [Tarrant County College District](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tarrant-county-college-district) | Fort Worth, TX | 29% | $42,727 | $4,337 | $9,104 | 0.21x |
| 37 | [Southwestern University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southwestern-university) | Georgetown, TX | 71% | $56,878 | $29,224 | $25,000 | 0.44x |
| 38 | [Victoria College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/victoria-college) | Victoria, TX | 27% | $42,382 | $3,043 | $10,500 | 0.25x |
| 39 | [Dallas Baptist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dallas-baptist-university) | Dallas, TX | 59% | $56,807 | $28,516 | $21,591 | 0.38x |
| 40 | [Southwestern Adventist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southwestern-adventist-university) | Keene, TX | 47% | $52,946 | $22,778 | $26,998 | 0.51x |
| 41 | [Abilene Christian University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/abilene-christian-university) | Abilene, TX | 60% | $55,736 | $26,182 | $24,250 | 0.44x |
| 42 | [College of the Mainland](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-the-mainland) | Texas City, TX | 30% | $39,639 | $1,342 | $5,960 | 0.15x |
| 43 | [Sul Ross State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sul-ross-state-university) | Alpine, TX | 29% | $41,871 | $13,286 | $15,900 | 0.38x |
| 44 | [Hardin-Simmons University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hardin-simmons-university) | Abilene, TX | 48% | $54,771 | $19,555 | $24,711 | 0.45x |
| 45 | [McMurry University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mcmurry-university) | Abilene, TX | 41% | $48,779 | $19,581 | $27,000 | 0.55x |
| 46 | [South Plains College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/south-plains-college) | Levelland, TX | 27% | $41,276 | $6,791 | $10,500 | 0.25x |
| 47 | [McLennan Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mclennan-community-college) | Waco, TX | 37% | $39,163 | $5,051 | $10,500 | 0.27x |
| 48 | [Cisco College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cisco-college) | Cisco, TX | 30% | $39,092 | $9,624 | $9,500 | 0.24x |
| 49 | [University of the Incarnate Word](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-the-incarnate-word) | San Antonio, TX | 51% | $56,733 | $22,775 | $27,000 | 0.48x |
| 50 | [Hill College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hill-college) | Hillsboro, TX | 30% | $39,572 | $7,577 | $10,000 | 0.25x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Colleges in Texas." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-texas

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.