# Best Master's Programs 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-masters-texas

## Methodology

Master's programs in Texas ranked by graduate outcomes

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

Choosing a master's program is a significant decision, especially in a state like Texas where options abound. The 50 schools on this list represent some of the best programs available, known for their strong graduate outcomes. Graduates from these programs earn an average of $55,512, highlighting the potential return on investment for students.

What sets apart the schools at the top of this list is not just their academic reputation, but their real-world outcomes. Metrics such as earnings, graduation rates, and debt load provide a clearer picture of what students can expect after finishing their degree. For example, the graduation rate across these programs averages 51%, but the top performers exceed that significantly, demonstrating a commitment to student success.

Rice University stands out with an impressive average earnings figure of $89,718 and a graduation rate of 95%. In contrast, the University of Houston, while still a strong contender, shows lower earnings at $62,377 and a graduation rate of 65%. These differences reflect the varying levels of support and resources provided to students, and they can be crucial for prospective students evaluating their options.

## Key Findings

- Rice University graduates earn an average of $89,718, the highest among Texas master's programs.
- The University of Texas at Austin boasts an 88% graduation rate, well above the statewide average.
- Texas A&M University-College Station graduates carry an average debt of $17,804, lower than many competitors.
- University of Houston graduates earn $62,377, but only 65% complete their programs.

## 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 | [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 |
| 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 | [Texas Christian University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-christian-university) | Fort Worth, TX | 86% | $68,424 | $36,660 | $21,500 | 0.31x |
| 10 | [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 |
| 11 | [Texas State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-state-university) | San Marcos, TX | 56% | $56,906 | $16,805 | $21,000 | 0.37x |
| 12 | [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 |
| 13 | [Brazosport College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brazosport-college) | Lake Jackson, TX | 47% | $45,910 | $4,732 | $5,641 | 0.12x |
| 14 | [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 |
| 15 | [Austin College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/austin-college) | Sherman, TX | 68% | $61,296 | $21,107 | $24,500 | 0.4x |
| 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 | [University of Dallas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-dallas) | Irving, TX | 70% | $58,285 | $22,610 | $23,117 | 0.4x |
| 23 | [Midwestern State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/midwestern-state-university) | Wichita Falls, TX | 42% | $55,747 | $11,656 | $21,030 | 0.38x |
| 24 | [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 |
| 25 | [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 |
| 26 | [Southern Methodist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-methodist-university) | Dallas, TX | 84% | $78,354 | $40,892 | $19,500 | 0.25x |
| 27 | [Odessa College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/odessa-college) | Odessa, TX | 32% | $42,026 | $6,368 | $7,750 | 0.18x |
| 28 | [Concordia University Texas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/concordia-university-texas) | Austin, TX | 42% | $60,883 | $23,131 | $21,852 | 0.36x |
| 29 | [Baylor University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/baylor-university) | Waco, TX | 80% | $65,793 | $41,104 | $23,000 | 0.35x |
| 30 | [Tarleton State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tarleton-state-university) | Stephenville, TX | 50% | $53,040 | $20,783 | $19,606 | 0.37x |
| 31 | [Dallas Baptist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dallas-baptist-university) | Dallas, TX | 59% | $56,807 | $28,516 | $21,591 | 0.38x |
| 32 | [Southwestern University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southwestern-university) | Georgetown, TX | 71% | $56,878 | $29,224 | $25,000 | 0.44x |
| 33 | [Southwestern Adventist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southwestern-adventist-university) | Keene, TX | 47% | $52,946 | $22,778 | $26,998 | 0.51x |
| 34 | [The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-rio-grande-valley) | Edinburg, TX | 50% | $49,620 | $4,831 | $12,950 | 0.26x |
| 35 | [University of Houston](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-houston) | Houston, TX | 65% | $62,377 | $14,276 | $18,194 | 0.29x |
| 36 | [Texas A & M International University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/texas-a-m-international-university) | Laredo, TX | 48% | $48,386 | $3,637 | $15,000 | 0.31x |
| 37 | [Abilene Christian University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/abilene-christian-university) | Abilene, TX | 60% | $55,736 | $26,182 | $24,250 | 0.44x |
| 38 | [University of Houston-Clear Lake](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-houston-clear-lake) | Houston, TX | 51% | $59,004 | $15,563 | $17,831 | 0.3x |
| 39 | [McMurry University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mcmurry-university) | Abilene, TX | 41% | $48,779 | $19,581 | $27,000 | 0.55x |
| 40 | [Sul Ross State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sul-ross-state-university) | Alpine, TX | 29% | $41,871 | $13,286 | $15,900 | 0.38x |
| 41 | [Weatherford College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/weatherford-college) | Weatherford, TX | 28% | $42,397 | $9,967 | $9,948 | 0.23x |
| 42 | [Hardin-Simmons University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hardin-simmons-university) | Abilene, TX | 48% | $54,771 | $19,555 | $24,711 | 0.45x |
| 43 | [Tyler Junior College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tyler-junior-college) | Tyler, TX | 27% | $38,140 | $10,206 | $11,995 | 0.31x |
| 44 | [Trinity Valley Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/trinity-valley-community-college) | Athens, TX | 26% | $38,567 | $4,092 | $10,426 | 0.27x |
| 45 | [Midland College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/midland-college) | Midland, TX | 20% | $43,958 | $4,512 | $10,670 | 0.24x |
| 46 | [LeTourneau University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/letourneau-university) | Longview, TX | 60% | $57,103 | $28,185 | $26,000 | 0.46x |
| 47 | [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 |
| 48 | [East Texas Baptist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/east-texas-baptist-university) | Marshall, TX | 48% | $52,788 | $23,911 | $23,250 | 0.44x |
| 49 | [Lubbock Christian University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lubbock-christian-university) | Lubbock, TX | 50% | $53,787 | $24,456 | $20,948 | 0.39x |
| 50 | [Schreiner University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/schreiner-university) | Kerrville, TX | 43% | $52,228 | $21,507 | $23,250 | 0.45x |

## 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 Master's Programs in Texas." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-masters-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/.