10 Best Colleges in Texas

So now you’re ready to apply to your favorite college. Congrats! You took the TSI Assessment or were exempt from having to do do.

Either way, we have a page that lists the most affordable colleges in Texas, but let’s also consider the top universities and colleges in the great state of Texas.

In Texas, Rice University ranks first when we consider the best colleges and universities. Trinity University in Houston and The University of Texas-Austin are second and third, respectively.

Among the best colleges and universities in Texas, the average annual cost of undergraduate tuition and fees is $11,244 (in-state) or $40,621 (out-of-state).

The annual tuition and fees for graduate programs are $10,816 (in-state) and $31,455 (out of state) among the best universities and schools in Texas. Among these top schools, the acceptance rate is 46 percent on average and the average graduation rate is 76 percent.

1. Rice University

6100 S Main Street | Houston | Texas 77005 | Phone: (713) 348-0000

Rice University is a not-for-profit, private 4-year academic institution located in Houston, Texas. The school is a renowned high-level research institution offering up to and including Doctor’s degree programs.

Current tuition and fees at Rice are $49,112 for undergraduate programs and $49,403 for the school’s graduate programs.

Rice University has a student population of just over 7,100 and the student-faculty ratio is 6-1. The acceptance rate is selective at 11 percent and the graduation rate is 95 percent.

2. Trinity University

1 Trinity Place | San Antonio | Texas 78212 | Phone (210) 999-7011

Trinity University is a not-for-profit, private 4-year academic institution located in San Antonio, Texas. Trinity offers up to and including Master’s degree programs.

Current tuition and fees at Trinity University are $44,680 for undergraduate programs and $42,737 for graduate programs.

Trinity University has a total student body of 2,637 and the student-faculty ratio is 9-1. The acceptance rate is selective at 34 percent and Trinity University’s graduation rate is 76 percent.

3. The University of Texas at Austin

110 Inner Campus Drive | Austin | Texas 78712 | Phone: (512) 471-3434

The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is a public, 4-year academic institution located in the state capital Austin, Texas. It is a highly respected research university that offers up to and including Doctor’s degree programs.

Current annual tuition and fees for the school’s undergraduate programs are $10,824 (in-state) and $38,326 (out-of-state) and for graduate programs $11,998 and $22,966 respectively.

The student population at UT Austin is currently 51,832 and the student-faculty ratio is 18-1. The school’s acceptance rate is selective at 39 percent and the graduation rate is 83 percent. The University of Texas at Austin offers also an outstanding Game Design Program and so does Southern Methodist University.

4. Southern Methodist University

6425 Boaz Street | Dallas | Texas 75275 | Phone: (214) 768-2000

Southern Methodist University (SMU) is a not-for-profit, private 4-year academic institution located in Dallas, Texas. SMU is a high-level research university offering up to and including Doctor’s degree programs.

Current annual tuition and fees for Southern Methodist University’s undergraduate programs are $56,560 and for graduate programs $47,256.

SMU has a total enrollment of 11,649 students and the school’s student-faculty ratio is 11-1. SMU’s acceptance rate is 51 percent and the graduation rate is 78 percent.

5. Texas A&M University-College Station

400 Bizzell Street | College Station | Texas 77843 | Phone: (979) 845-3211

Texas A&M University at College Station (TAMU) is a public 4-year academic institution in College Station, Texas. TAMU is a high-level research institution that offers up to and including Doctor’s degree programs.

Current TAMU undergraduate tuition and fees are $12,153 (in-state) and $38,602 (out-of-state) and for graduate programs $10,173 and $22,196 respectively. For information about TSI scores, exempt status. and ACT scores, check out this article. For TSI and SAT scores, click here.

TAMU’s total student body is 68,679 at a student-faculty ratio of 20-1. The school has a selective acceptance rate of 68 percent and the graduation rate is 82 percent.

6. The University of Texas at Dallas

800 W Campbell Road | Richardson | Texas 75080 | Phone: (972) 883-2111

UT Dallas, to The University of Texas at Dallas, is a public 4-year academic institution located in Richardson, Texas. The schools a high-end research university offering up to and including Doctor’s degree programs. Check out also this interesting post about TSI scores and College Credit if you think about applying to your favorite college.

Current annual tuition and fees at UT Dallas for undergraduate programs are $13,442 (in-state) $38,168 (out-of-state) and for graduate programs $13,874 and $27,796 respectively.

UT Dallas has a total student population of 28,755 and a student-faculty ratio of 25-1. The acceptance rate at UT Dallas is 69 percent and the graduation rate is 72 percent.

7. Texas Christian University

2800 S University Drive | Fort Worth | Texas 76129 | Phone: (817) 257-7000

Texas Christian University, or TCU, is a private not-for-profit 4-year academic institution located in Fort Worth, Texas. TCU is a highly respected research university offering up to and including Doctor’s degree programs.

Current annual undergraduate tuition and fees at Texas Christian University are $49,250 whereas tuition and fees for the school’s graduate programs are $30,828 annually.

TCU has a total student count of 10,918 and a student-faculty ratio of 13-1. The acceptance rate is selective at 41 percent and the graduation rate is 83 percent. If you want to learn more about the most affordable colleges in Texas, go to this page for an overview and the most expensive colleges in Texas are listed as well.

8. Baylor University

1311 S 5th Street | Waco | Texas 76706 |Phone: (254) 710-1011

Baylor University is a private not-for-profit 4-year academic institution located in Waco, Texas. The school is a high-end research institution offering up to and including Doctor’s degree programs.

Baylor University’s current annual undergraduate tuition and fees are $47,364 whereas annual graduate tuition and fees at Baylor University are $35,514.

The school has a student population 17,217 and the student-faculty ratio is 14-1. Baylor University has a very selective acceptance rate at 39 percent and the graduation rate is 79 percent.

9. Texas State University

601 University Drive | San Marcos | Texas 78666 | Phone: (512) 245-2111

Texas State University (TXST) is a public 4-year academic institution located in San Marcos, Texas. The school is a highly-respected research institution that offers up to and including Doctor’s degree programs.

Current annual undergraduate tuition and fees at TXST are $10,581 (in-state) and $22,397 (out-of-state). The school’s annual graduate tuition are $8,664 (in-state) and $17,104 (out-of-state).

Texas State University has a total student count of 38,644 and the student-faculty ratio is 22-1. The school has a selective acceptance policy at 46 percent and the graduation rate is 55 percent. Many high school students sign up for Dual Credit Courses which will benefit them considerably in college.

10. The University of Houston

4800 Calhoun Road | Houston | Texas 77004 | Phone: (713) 743-1000

The University of Houston is a public 4-year academic institution located in Houston, Texas. It is a high-end research institution that offers up to and including Doctor’s degree programs. You can read all about Texas College Acceptance Rates in this article.

Current annual undergraduate tuition and fees at the University of Houston are $9,221 (in-state) and $21,749 (out-of-state). For the school’s graduate programs, the annual tuition and fees are $9,372 (in-state) and $18,748 (out-of-state).

The total student count at the University of Houston is 46,324 at a student-faculty ratio of 22-1. The school’s acceptance rate is selective at 62 percent and the graduation rate is 59 percent.