Rankings / By State
Best Online Colleges in Texas
- 50
- Schools
- $50,406
- Avg. Earnings
- 47%
- Avg. Graduation
- $13,850
- Avg. Net Price
- $16,432
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $35,563 at the low end to $78,354 at the top. That 2.2× spread shows how much outcomes vary within a single category.
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College of the Mainland offers the strongest payback. Graduates earn a median of $39,639 against $1,342 in annual net price, the best earnings-to-cost ratio in this ranking.
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The most budget-friendly option on this list is College of the Mainland, at $1,342 annually in net price.
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Completion rates separate this field: Texas A&M University-College Station graduates 84% of its students, well above the 47% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
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Debt-to-earnings ratios favor Brazosport College: graduates owe only 0.12× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- The top spot belongs to The University of Texas at Dallas ($68,227 earnings), not the highest earner, Southern Methodist University ($78,354). That is what weighting mobility and value over salary alone produces.
- Price and payoff diverge sharply here. College of the Mainland ($1,342/yr) and Baylor University ($41,104/yr) produce graduates earning $39,639 and $65,793 respectively, a far narrower earnings gap than the $39,762 cost difference would suggest.
- On a cost-adjusted basis, College of the Mainland outperforms Southern Methodist University: similar career earnings at a much lower net price.
The Takeaway
A consistent pattern: the schools that finish at the top get there by delivering strong earnings, manageable debt, and real mobility rather than by charging more or rejecting more applicants. Those outcomes are what define educational value.
What This Means for Students
For students evaluating these schools, begin with College of the Mainland and Texas A&M University-College Station. Look past sticker price: pull each school's net price for your income level, compare it against projected earnings, and let the data guide the decision instead of the brand.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $50K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-20
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 The University of Texas at Dallas #1 overall | $68,227 ▲ +35% vs avg | $18,267 | 75% | 73 |
| 2 The University of Texas at Tyler #2 overall | $57,053 ▲ +13% vs avg | $13,323 | 51% | 72 |
| 3 Texas Woman's University #3 overall | $56,544 ▲ +12% vs avg | $11,963 | 47% | 71 |
| $50,296 ▲ +0% vs avg | $11,841 | 44% | 71 | |
| $57,010 ▲ +13% vs avg | $15,649 | 60% | 71 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Online Colleges in Texas
This analysis ranks 50 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $50,406 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 47% and an average net price of $13,850.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: College of the Mainland — Net Price: $1,342 | Graduation Rate: 30%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Texas A&M University-College Station — 84% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Southern Methodist University — Median alumni earnings: $78,354
Data Insight
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Access & Flexibility Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about online education and the working-adult learner?
$50,206
Median earnings (10yr)
46%
Median graduation rate
$11,902
Median net price
2.5%
Avg. mobility rate
The online education market has matured. What was once a niche offering for non-traditional students is now a central way Americans access higher education. The programs that succeed pair flexibility with the support structures and academic rigor that lead to completion and career outcomes rather than enrollment alone.
Start with the medians across these 50 schools. Graduates earn a median of $50,206 ten years after enrollment, or about $2,206 above the $48,000 a typical American worker earns. The median graduation rate is 46%, and the typical net price (what students pay after grants) runs $11,902 a year with about $17,902 in federal debt. Pell grants reach 33% of students on average, and the average mobility rate, the share of students lifted from the bottom income quintile to the top, is 2.5%.
Online delivery is no longer a compromise; the best programs post outcomes competitive with their on-campus peers. With median earnings of $50,206 and a net price of $11,902, these programs show that flexibility and quality can coexist.
The podium
Build your ranking
Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
The University of Texas at Dallas lands at #1 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (64/100). Graduates earn a median $68,227 a decade after enrolling, 35% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,267 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
The University of Texas at Tyler lands at #2 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (69/100). Graduates earn a median $57,053 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,323 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Texas Woman's University lands at #3 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (68/100). Graduates earn a median $56,544 a decade after enrolling, 12% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,963 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
East Texas A&M University lands at #4 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (92/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $50,296 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,841 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
University of North Texas lands at #5 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (64/100). Graduates earn a median $57,010 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,649 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
The University of Texas Permian Basin lands at #6 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (65/100). Graduates earn a median $56,073 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,723 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
The University of Texas at Arlington lands at #7 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $63,199 a decade after enrolling, 25% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,951 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Western Texas College lands at #8 with a 71/100 composite, led by value per dollar (92/100) and pulled down by academic quality (63/100). Graduates earn a median $42,508 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $3,562 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Texas State University lands at #9 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (61/100). Graduates earn a median $56,906 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $16,805 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
College Station, TX · 57% accepted · $21,315 net
Why it ranks #10
Texas A&M University-College Station lands at #10 with a 70/100 composite, led by academic quality (87/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (64/100). Graduates earn a median $72,097 a decade after enrolling, 43% above this list's average, and net price runs $21,315 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Sam Houston State University lands at #11 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (60/100). Graduates earn a median $54,211 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $16,404 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
San Antonio, TX · 87% accepted · $10,836 net
Why it ranks #12
The University of Texas at San Antonio lands at #12 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $57,131 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $10,836 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Texas Tech University lands at #13 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (60/100). Graduates earn a median $62,454 a decade after enrolling, 24% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,070 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Lamar University lands at #14 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $49,652 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,366 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Angelo State University lands at #15 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (63/100). Graduates earn a median $50,116 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,091 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
Stephen F Austin State University lands at #16 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (63/100). Graduates earn a median $49,634 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,260 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
Southern Methodist University lands at #17 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (43/100). Graduates earn a median $78,354 a decade after enrolling, 55% above this list's average, and net price runs $40,892 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
University of Dallas lands at #18 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (56/100). Graduates earn a median $58,285 a decade after enrolling, 16% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,610 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
Concordia University Texas lands at #19 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (51/100). Graduates earn a median $60,883 a decade after enrolling, 21% above this list's average, and net price runs $23,131 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
Brazosport College lands at #20 with a 68/100 composite, led by value per dollar (91/100) and pulled down by academic quality (68/100). Graduates earn a median $45,910 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,732 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #21
The University of Texas at El Paso lands at #21 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $50,923 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $9,403 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #22
Midwestern State University lands at #22 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $55,747 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $11,656 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
Temple College lands at #23 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (91/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $38,678 a decade after enrolling, 23% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,682 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #24
North Central Texas College lands at #24 with a 67/100 composite, led by value per dollar (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (65/100). Graduates earn a median $45,809 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,587 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #25
Northeast Texas Community College lands at #25 with a 67/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (63/100). Graduates earn a median $37,870 a decade after enrolling, 25% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,706 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #26
Wharton County Junior College lands at #26 with a 67/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $44,960 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,666 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #27
Tarleton State University lands at #27 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $53,040 a decade after enrolling, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,783 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #28
Panola College lands at #28 with a 67/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (63/100). Graduates earn a median $36,072 a decade after enrolling, 28% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,216 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #29
Baylor University lands at #29 with a 67/100 composite, led by academic quality (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (40/100). Graduates earn a median $65,793 a decade after enrolling, 31% above this list's average, and net price runs $41,104 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #30
Amarillo College lands at #30 with a 67/100 composite, led by value per dollar (84/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (62/100). Graduates earn a median $41,302 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,600 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #31
Odessa College lands at #31 with a 67/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $42,026 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,368 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #32
Lee College lands at #32 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $42,178 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,879 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #33
Tarrant County College District lands at #33 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $42,727 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,337 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #34
Victoria College lands at #34 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (44/100). Graduates earn a median $42,382 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $3,043 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #35
Dallas Baptist University lands at #35 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $56,807 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $28,516 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #36
Southwestern Adventist University lands at #36 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $52,946 a decade after enrolling, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,778 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #37
Abilene Christian University lands at #37 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $55,736 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $26,182 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #38
College of the Mainland lands at #38 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (95/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $39,639 a decade after enrolling, 21% below this list's average, and net price runs $1,342 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #39
Sul Ross State University lands at #39 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (44/100). Graduates earn a median $41,871 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,286 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #40
Hardin-Simmons University lands at #40 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $54,771 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,555 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #41
Paris Junior College lands at #41 with a 65/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $36,515 a decade after enrolling, 28% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,690 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #42
McMurry University lands at #42 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (56/100). Graduates earn a median $48,779 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $19,581 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #43
South Plains College lands at #43 with a 65/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $41,276 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,791 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #44
McLennan Community College lands at #44 with a 65/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $39,163 a decade after enrolling, 22% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,051 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #45
Cisco College lands at #45 with a 65/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $39,092 a decade after enrolling, 22% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,624 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #46
University of the Incarnate Word lands at #46 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $56,733 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,775 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #47
Clarendon College lands at #47 with a 65/100 composite, led by value per dollar (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $38,696 a decade after enrolling, 23% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,390 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #48
Hill College lands at #48 with a 64/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (44/100). Graduates earn a median $39,572 a decade after enrolling, 21% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,577 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #49
LeTourneau University lands at #49 with a 64/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $57,103 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $28,185 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #50
Southwest Texas College lands at #50 with a 64/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $35,563 a decade after enrolling, 29% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,372 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 50 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
This ranking scores 50 institutions on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt burdens, and social mobility data from Opportunity Insights. Every data point comes from federal sources. No surveys, no opinions.
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in our algorithm. We use Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card — built on 30 million anonymized tax records — to measure whether a college changes a family's economic trajectory across generations. Schools that take low-income students and launch them into higher earnings rank higher than schools that admit wealthy students and take credit for their success.
The transparency penalty matters here. Schools that don't report their data get scored lower than schools that do. If an institution won't show you its numbers, we think you should know that before you write them a tuition check.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 49 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 2.5%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. The University of Texas at El Paso leads the group at 6.8%, with Southwest Texas College (5.7%) and Sul Ross State University (5.2%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 13% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Southwest Texas College enrolls the most, at 43%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 21.9% across the list, peaking at 44.7% at East Texas A&M University.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.42, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Southern Methodist University is highest at 1.83.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Online Colleges in Texas: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Online Colleges in Texas ranking? +
The University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, TX ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Online Colleges in Texas ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $68,227 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 75% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Southern Methodist University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $78,354 ten years after enrollment, well above the $50,406 average across the 50 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, College of the Mainland leads: graduates earn a median $39,639 against net price of about $1,342 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Texas A&M University-College Station has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 84%, compared with a 47% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $13,850 a year across the 50 ranked schools with cost data. College of the Mainland is among the most affordable at roughly $1,342. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Online Colleges in Texas ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 50 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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