Is a research university right for me?–

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students. Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel. Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well. Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Research Universities in Texas 2024

Q: Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Badge for BEST IN TEXAS RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES

By Dr. James Barham

Updated: Oct 26, 2023

Interested in attending a STEM school in Texas? Our ranking of top research universities for bachelor’s degrees displays schools that will best prepare you for STEM careers.

10 Best Research Universities in Texas 2024

University of Texas at Austin
Texas A&M University
Rice University
University of Houston
Southern Methodist University
Baylor University
Texas Tech University
University of Texas at Dallas
University of North Texas
University of Texas at Arlington

University of Texas at Austin
Rice University
Texas A&M University
University of Houston
Southern Methodist University
Baylor University
Texas Tech University
University of North Texas
University of Texas at Dallas
University of Texas at Arlington

University of Texas at El Paso 100%
Texas Southern University 97%
Texas A&M University–Kingsville 97%
University of the Incarnate Word 94%
Texas Woman's University 94%
University of Texas at Tyler 94%
Dallas Baptist University 91%
Stephen F. Austin State University 90%
Texas State University 88%
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 88%

University of Texas at Dallas 27 to 1
University of Texas at Arlington 24 to 1
University of Texas at San Antonio 24 to 1
University of North Texas 23 to 1
University of Houston 21 to 1
Texas State University 21 to 1
Texas Tech University 21 to 1
Texas A&M University–Commerce 20 to 1
Lamar University 20 to 1
Sam Houston State University 20 to 1

Southern Methodist University $61,980
Rice University $54,960
Texas Christian University $53,980
Baylor University $51,738
Texas Wesleyan University $36,128
Dallas Baptist University $35,310
University of the Incarnate Word $34,400
Our Lady of the Lake University $31,124
University of Texas at Dallas $14,564
University of Texas at Austin $11,698

Rice University $51,634
Baylor University $38,772
Texas Christian University $33,660
Southern Methodist University $31,590
Dallas Baptist University $21,186
University of the Incarnate Word $18,900
Our Lady of the Lake University $17,316
Texas Wesleyan University $15,869
University of Texas at Dallas $15,088
University of Texas at Austin $12,036

Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi
Texas A&M University–Kingsville
Texas A&M University–Commerce
Texas Wesleyan University
Our Lady of the Lake University
Dallas Baptist University
University of Texas at Tyler
Texas Woman's University
Stephen F. Austin State University
University of the Incarnate Word

Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi
Texas A&M University–Kingsville
Texas A&M University–Commerce
Our Lady of the Lake University
Texas Wesleyan University
University of Texas at Tyler
Dallas Baptist University
University of the Incarnate Word
Stephen F. Austin State University
Lamar University

Rice University 9%
University of Texas at Austin 31%
Baylor University 46%
Southern Methodist University 52%
Texas Christian University 56%
Texas Wesleyan University 61%
Texas A&M University 63%
University of Houston 66%
Texas Tech University 67%
University of North Texas 79%

Rice University 6 to 1
Our Lady of the Lake University 11 to 1
Southern Methodist University 11 to 1
University of the Incarnate Word 13 to 1
Texas Wesleyan University 14 to 1
Texas Christian University 14 to 1
University of Texas at Tyler 15 to 1
Baylor University 15 to 1
Texas A&M University–Kingsville 16 to 1
Texas Woman's University 16 to 1

Texas A&M University–Commerce $4,790
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi $4,913
Texas A&M University–Kingsville $5,137
Texas Woman's University $5,616
Sam Houston State University $5,856
Lamar University $6,228
University of Texas at San Antonio $6,233
Texas Southern University $6,941
University of Texas at Tyler $7,020
University of Texas at El Paso $7,704

Texas A&M University–Kingsville $3,409
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi $3,610
Texas A&M University–Commerce $3,630
Texas Woman's University $5,112
Stephen F. Austin State University $5,262
Sam Houston State University $5,765
University of Texas at El Paso $5,865
University of Texas at Tyler $6,264
University of North Texas $6,350
Lamar University $6,471

Key Takeaways

Texas is packed with both public and private universities. This makes the state a great option for many students.
You can find many research universities in Texas. How do they differ from the traditional college or university? Know the advantages of enrolling in a research university to find out why this might be a good option for you.
Completing your studies at a research university in Texas can open some lucrative job opportunities after you graduate.

Table of Contents

Texas: Home to World-leading Research Universities

Choosing the best university and graduate programs is a tough decision. Like many other states, Texas has a college system consisting of top private universities and prestigious schools like the University of Texas at Austin and Rice University. Texas is also home to several research universities. As of January 2021, roughly 1.6 million college students are enrolled across many Texas schools.

When researching the many institutions in Texas, maybe you have come across a university that refers to itself as “research-intensive.” But what exactly is a research university? And what benefits do you get from studying at one of these institutions?

A research university is a school in which research is vital to its mission. In program content, research is an important component.

Active researchers, being experts in their fields, create and teach the curricula. Many employers value on-campus and online degree programs completed in research universities because, through research projects, students are taught one of the most crucial skills useful to any field—critical thinking skills.

Reasons Why You Should Enroll in a Research University

You will be on top of the latest developments and the newest discoveries. Studying in a research-intensive university will teach you more about world-leading research. You get to know the most updated knowledge and thinking in your subject.

And the best part of it all? Your teachers are likely active researchers in the field that will bring their interests and work into the class. You will learn about the crucial academic fundamentals of your subjects, too.

Community

Enrolling in a research university also means you will become a part of an active community that shares the same passion as you—a community of similarly ambitious world-leading researchers and peers.

You get to learn from others while building your professional network as you study. And if you intend to pursue your studies after you graduate, your degree will give you the perfect connections and foundation for a master’s or Ph.D. program.

Skills for Success

The skills you develop during your studies will set you apart from other graduates as you compete in the job market. A research university will equip you with curiosity and critical thinking skills.

Attending a research university can help you to become an independent learner. You will develop a keen ability to develop and take ownership of your research project.

This skill will serve you well whether you plan to further your education in graduate school or enter the job market.

State-of-the-art Facilities

You will have access to cutting-edge equipment and state-of-the-art facilities in the top research universities. Most of the research universities in Texas have open-plan learning spaces as part of their STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) facilities.

More Specialized Majors

Most research universities have a large student and faculty population. This means more majors to choose from.

As an example, a smaller college may offer General Biology, but a research university will offer Biophysics, Biochemistry, or Biotechnology.

Networking Opportunities

Researchers are encouraged to develop connections and often collaborate across college campuses with other experts in their field.

Student organizations at large research universities often invite experts and leaders in their fields to visit the campus and interact with students. These types of interactions can lead to mentorships, internships, and careers upon graduation.

Enthusiastic and Experienced Professors

People who dedicate most of their waking hours to researching a particular subject are passionate about it. Professors often take this enthusiasm with them into class as they teach and perform research with their students.

No more monotonous, boring lectures, instead professors in research universities are enthusiastic and passionate.

Colleges and Universities in Texas

Texas offers more than 30 colleges and universities that serve communities of 10,000 students or more. The largest school in the bunch (and in the nation), Texas A&M University in College Station serves more than 65,000 students. The University of Texas at Austin is the next largest, serving about 45,000 students - but it too has a big claim to fame, as the wealthiest public university in the United States. Texas’s private colleges and universities, including Baylor University and Southern Methodist University, are also impressive in size and scope. The majority of these schools have religious affiliations and offer degrees in a variety fields, such as nursing, religious studies, criminal justice, business, and education.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

For students who prefer a more intimate educational environment, Texas offers a long list of smaller public and private colleges and universities, such as Abilene Christian University and University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Additionally, Texas has generous loan forgiveness programs for qualifying nurses, physicians, teachers, legal aid attorneys, and lawyers who work in the Texas Attorney General’s office.

Texas is known for doing things big. Big cities, big open spaces and, of course, big fun. Whether you’re hitting up the live music scene in Austin, catching a Cowboys game in Dallas, or strolling down the River Walk in San Antonio, you’re sure to have a good time. And, with more than 150 higher education institutes, it’s safe to say The Lone Star State is big on education too.

If you’re looking to earn your degree in the state of Texas, you’ll have plenty of higher learning institutes to choose from.

What are Texas’s Colleges & Universities?

Texas’s Best Overall

How do we determine Texas's best colleges and universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

A research university is a great option for students interested in obtaining STEM degrees. Research universities invest heavily in research, which consequently provides meaningful and extensive opportunities for its students and faculty to participate in research. We’ve identified 28 research universities in Texas. To be included in our ranking, schools must be a fully accredited universities and must must offer doctoral degrees across the range of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

Best Research Universities in Texas 2023

Find the Best Research Universities in Texas for Your Area of Interest

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines.

Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students.

Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).

Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers.

Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available.

Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online.

Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands.

Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.

Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving.

If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.

The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors.

Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

Check out our directory of research universities throughout the U.S. for a look at the top research institutions in every state.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Research Universities in Texas 2024

10 Best Research Universities in Texas 2024

Key Takeaways

Texas: Home to World-leading Research Universities

Reasons Why You Should Enroll in a Research University

Community

Skills for Success

State-of-the-art Facilities

More Specialized Majors

Networking Opportunities

Enthusiastic and Experienced Professors

Colleges and Universities in Texas

What are Texas’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Research Universities in Texas 2023

Career Outlook for degree at University of Texas at Austin

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Texas A&M University

Most Influential Alumni

Texas A&M University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Rice University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Houston

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Southern Methodist University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Baylor University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Texas Tech University

Most Influential Alumni

Texas Tech University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of Texas at Dallas

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of North Texas

Most Influential Alumni

University of North Texas’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of Texas at Arlington

Most Influential Alumni

University of Texas at Arlington’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Texas Christian University

Most Influential Alumni

Texas Christian University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at University of Texas at San Antonio

Most Influential Alumni

University of Texas at San Antonio’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of Texas at El Paso

Most Influential Alumni

University of Texas at El Paso’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Texas Southern University

Most Influential Alumni

Texas Southern University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Texas State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Sam Houston State University

Most Influential Alumni

Sam Houston State University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Lamar University

Most Influential Alumni

Lamar University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of the Incarnate Word

University of the Incarnate Word’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Stephen F. Austin State University

Most Influential Alumni

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Texas Woman's University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Texas at Tyler

Most Influential Alumni

University of Texas at Tyler’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Dallas Baptist University

Most Influential Alumni