Texas’s Most Affordable Colleges & Universities of 2021

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.

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The following list of the most affordable colleges and universities in Texas is composed entirely of schools offering four-year undergraduate degree programs. There are 44 colleges and universities in Texas that offer tuition under $16,000/year; 32 of those schools are below $10,000/year. The list below of the top 30 most affordable colleges universities in the state satisfies the following three conditions:

1. It must be fully accredited.
2. It must offer a broad range of bachelor’s degrees
3. Its stated tuition and fees must be under $16,000/year.

How do we determine Texas's most affordable colleges and universities?

The best colleges pound for pound!

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why, at the undergraduate level, we rank the best colleges and universities based on what we call Concentrated Influence. Concentrated Influence takes the combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers (including faculty and alums) and divides it by the school’s total number of undergraduates.

Using concentrated influence gives small and mid-sized schools an opportunity to shine by taking away the size advantage of larger universities. A small school with proportionately more influential faculty than a large school, whose influence in absolute terms may be bigger, will nonetheless score higher in a concentrated influence ranking. Our approach highlights undergraduate schools that truly rank for excellence, regardless of size.

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.

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

Find out more about our ranking methodology here.

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Most Affordable Colleges & Universities in Texas

1. 

   #1

   Brazosport College

   #3714 institution's overall influence

   Tuition + fees

   $3K

   Student body

   3K

   Lake Jackson, TX

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   What is Brazosport College known for?

   Brazosport College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Education
   • Criminal Justice
   • Medical
   • Nursing
   • Computer Science
2. 

   #2

   Tyler Junior College

   #3990 institution's overall influence

   Tuition + fees

   $4K

   Student body

   9K

   Tyler, TX

   View profile

   What is Tyler Junior College known for?

   Tyler Junior College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Education
   • Medical
   • History
   • Communications
   • Political Science
   • Business
   • Mathematics
   • Earth Sciences
   • Engineering
   • Nursing

   Most Influential Alumni

   • Eliran Guetta
   • Aston Francis
   • Mohammed Kamara
   • Billy James
   • Nomvula Kgoale
   • Jake Morris
   • Trey Alexander
   • Floyd Wagstaff
   • Byron Smith
   • Philip Blake
   • Dan Page
   • Ira Albright
3. 

   #3

   South Texas College

   #4834 institution's overall influence

   Tuition + fees

   $4K

   0

   Student body

   22K

   McAllen, TX

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   What is South Texas College known for?

   South Texas College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Education
   • Medical
   • Political Science
   • Nursing
   • Criminal Justice
   • Business
   • History
   • Biology
   • Engineering
   • Communications
4. 

   #4

   Midland College

   #3413 institution's overall influence

   Tuition + fees

   $4K

   Student body

   3K

   Midland, TX

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   What is Midland College known for?

   Midland College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Education
   • Business
   • Medical
   • Computer Science
   • Criminal Justice
   • Nursing
   • Engineering
   • Social Work

   Most Influential Alumni

   • Lauren Mansfield
   • Artūras Valeika
   • Anatoli Boisa
   • Tucker Davidson
   • Nathan Jawai
5. 

   #5

   University of Texas Permian Basin

   #4023 institution's overall influence

   Tuition + fees

   $7K

   Acceptance

   88%

   Graduation

   43%

   Student body

   5K

   Median SAT/ACT

   1036/19

   Odessa, TX

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   What is University of Texas Permian Basin known for?

   University of Texas Permian Basin's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Political Science
   • Education
   • Biology
   • Literature
   • Business
   • Sociology
   • Engineering
   • Earth Sciences
   • Chemistry
   • Medical
6. 

   #6

   University of Houston–Downtown

   #4599 institution's overall influence

   #463 overall school desirability

   Tuition + fees

   $7K

   Acceptance

   93%

   Graduation

   21%

   Student body

   11K

   Median SAT/ACT

   1000/18

   Houston, TX

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   What is University of Houston–Downtown known for?

   University of Houston–Downtown's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Business
   • Education
   • Political Science
   • Criminal Justice
   • Medical
   • History
   • Computer Science
   • Social Work
   • Literature
   • Philosophy

   Most Influential Alumni

   • Jazzie Redd
7. 

   #7

   University of Houston–Victoria

   #5009 institution's overall influence

   #612 overall school desirability

   Tuition + fees

   $7K

   Acceptance

   67%

   Graduation

   18%

   Student body

   3K

   Median SAT/ACT

   1009/18

   Victoria, TX

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   What is University of Houston–Victoria known for?

   University of Houston–Victoria's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Business
   • Education
   • Computer Science
   • Biology
   • Political Science
   • Medical
   • Literature
   • Communications
   • History
   • Mathematics

   Most Influential Alumni

   • Beverly Tomek
   • Alan Weddell
   • Van G. Garrett
8. 

   #8

   Sul Ross State University

   #2609 institution's overall influence

   #609 overall school desirability

   Tuition + fees

   $9K

   Acceptance

   81%

   Graduation

   22%

   Student body

   2K

   Median SAT/ACT

   /17

   Alpine, TX

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   What is Sul Ross State University known for?

   Sul Ross State University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Criminal Justice
   • Education
   • Business
   • Biology
   • History
   • Political Science
   • Medical
   • Mathematics
   • Computer Science
   • Nursing

   Most Influential Alumni

   • Bertha Landers
9. 

   #9

   University of Houston–Clear Lake

   #2835 institution's overall influence

   #1340 overall school desirability

   Tuition + fees

   $7K

   Acceptance

   81%

   Student body

   7K

   Median SAT/ACT

   1105/21

   Houston, TX

   View profile

   What is University of Houston–Clear Lake known for?

   University of Houston–Clear Lake's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Engineering
   • Business
   • Computer Science
   • Medical
   • Education
   • Political Science
   • Physics
   • Biology
   • Mathematics
   • Sociology
10. 

    #10

    Texas A&M International University

    #3363 institution's overall influence

    #896 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    59%

    Graduation

    44%

    Student body

    7K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1005/18

    Laredo, TX

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11. 

    #11

    Tarleton State University

    #3054 institution's overall influence

    #762 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    58%

    Graduation

    46%

    Student body

    11K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1045/20

    Stephenville, TX

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    What is Tarleton State University known for?

    Tarleton State University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Education
    • History
    • Medical
    • Biology
    • Business
    • Political Science
    • Mathematics
    • Communications
    • Literature
    • Earth Sciences

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Richie Champion
12. 

    #12

    Texas A&M University–Texarkana

    #11921 institution's overall influence

    #855 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    96%

    Graduation

    30%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1060/21

    Texarkana, TX

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    What is Texas A&M University–Texarkana known for?

    Texas A&M University–Texarkana's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Education
    • Criminal Justice
    • Political Science
    • History
    • Medical
    • Nursing
    • Biology
    • Engineering
    • Literature
    • Mathematics
13. 

    #13

    Angelo State University

    #1556 institution's overall influence

    #1397 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    78%

    Graduation

    37%

    Student body

    8K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1025/20

    San Angelo, TX

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    What is Angelo State University known for?

    Angelo State University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Education
    • Business
    • Medical
    • Nursing
    • Communications
    • Computer Science
    • History
    • Engineering
    • Biology
    • Physics

    Most Influential Alumni

    • David Lindsey
    • Andrés Ibargüen
    • Daisy Osakue
    • Omari Gudul
14. 

    #14

    Texas Woman's University

    #1577 institution's overall influence

    #455 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    94%

    Graduation

    36%

    Student body

    13K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1040/19

    Denton, TX

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    What is Texas Woman's University known for?

    Texas Woman's University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Literature
    • Education
    • Medical
    • Business
    • Nursing
    • Biology
    • History
    • Sociology
    • Political Science
    • Psychology

    Most Influential Alumni

    • C. D. Kirven
15. 

    #15

    University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

    #1100 institution's overall influence

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    82%

    Graduation

    45%

    Student body

    26K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1040/19

    Edinburg, TX

    View profile

    What is University of Texas Rio Grande Valley known for?

    University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Medical
    • Education
    • Business
    • Political Science
    • History
    • Criminal Justice
    • Law
    • Biology
    • Engineering
    • Physics

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Arthur Rogers
16. 

    #16

    West Texas A&M University

    #2413 institution's overall influence

    #1327 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    58%

    Graduation

    41%

    Student body

    8K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1040/20

    Canyon, TX

    View profile

    What is West Texas A&M University known for?

    West Texas A&M University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Business
    • Education
    • History
    • Biology
    • Law
    • Medical
    • Political Science
    • Computer Science
    • Communications
    • Psychology

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Sharon Kwarula
    • Jimmie C. Hall
    • Joel Vaughn
    • Marie-Christine Gasingirwa
17. 

    #17

    Amberton University

    #4903 institution's overall influence

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Student body

    1K

    Garland, TX

    View profile

    What is Amberton University known for?

    Amberton University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Business
    • Psychology
18. 

    #18

    University of Texas at El Paso

    #761 institution's overall influence

    #725 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    100%

    Graduation

    41%

    Student body

    20K

    El Paso, TX

    View profile

    What is University of Texas at El Paso known for?

    University of Texas at El Paso's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Engineering
    • Literature
    • Education
    • History
    • Philosophy
    • Communications
    • Business
    • Mathematics
    • Computer Science
    • Medical

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Joel Neftali Martinez
    • Robert Rodriguez
    • Emmanuel Korir
    • Kristīne Vītola
    • Verónica Reyes
    • Eric Vila
    • Michael Saruni
    • Venetta Seals
    • Fred DeBernardi
    • Walter Milner
    • Trine Pilskog
    • Evelina Ortega
19. 

    #19

    University of Texas at San Antonio

    #983 institution's overall influence

    #1111 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    84%

    Graduation

    37%

    Student body

    27K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1125/22

    San Antonio, TX

    View profile

    What is University of Texas at San Antonio known for?

    University of Texas at San Antonio's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Engineering
    • Medical
    • Biology
    • Education
    • Computer Science
    • History
    • Literature
    • Business
    • Psychology
    • Chemistry

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Tarek Omar Souryal
    • Jhivvan Jackson
    • Marilyn Lanfear
    • Deon Lyle
    • Ted V. Shaneyfelt
20. 

    #20

    Sam Houston State University

    #804 institution's overall influence

    #1048 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    92%

    Graduation

    51%

    Student body

    18K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1065/21

    Huntsville, TX

    View profile

    What is Sam Houston State University known for?

    Sam Houston State University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Communications
    • Criminal Justice
    • Education
    • Medical
    • Business
    • History
    • Political Science
    • Biology
    • Literature
    • Mathematics

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Mike Schultz
    • Horace W. South
    • Tarek Omar Souryal
    • Nancy Rodriguez
    • Boney Watson
    • Aurimas Majauskas
    • Donald Cole
21. 

    #21

    Stephen F. Austin State University

    #2064 institution's overall influence

    #1254 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    76%

    Graduation

    44%

    Student body

    11K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1085/21

    Nacogdoches, TX

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    What is Stephen F. Austin State University known for?

    Stephen F. Austin State University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Business
    • Political Science
    • Education
    • History
    • Biology
    • Criminal Justice
    • Literature
    • Mathematics
    • Chemistry
    • Medical

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Sara Sosnowy
    • Roy Blake Jr.
    • Billy Autrey
    • Will Vest
    • Roy Blake Sr.
    • Matt Kingsley
    • Kevon Harris
22. 

    #22

    University of Texas at Tyler

    #2873 institution's overall influence

    #1359 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    92%

    Graduation

    42%

    Student body

    8K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1155/24

    Tyler, TX

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    What is University of Texas at Tyler known for?

    University of Texas at Tyler's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Political Science
    • Education
    • Criminal Justice
    • Business
    • Medical
    • Mathematics
    • Engineering
    • History
    • Computer Science
    • Biology
23. 

    #23

    Lamar University

    #1160 institution's overall influence

    #749 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    83%

    Graduation

    30%

    Student body

    13K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1050/20

    Beaumont, TX

    View profile

    What is Lamar University known for?

    Lamar University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Business
    • Education
    • Engineering
    • Mathematics
    • Biology
    • History
    • Computer Science
    • Political Science
    • Medical
    • Chemistry

    Most Influential Alumni

    • T. J. Atwood
    • Herschel Sims
    • Don Coleman
    • Lucy Ashworth-Clifford
24. 

    #24

    Texas Southern University

    #877 institution's overall influence

    #550 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    66%

    Graduation

    23%

    Student body

    8K

    Median SAT/ACT

    920/16

    Houston, TX

    View profile

    What is Texas Southern University known for?

    Texas Southern University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Law
    • Education
    • Medical
    • Political Science
    • History
    • Criminal Justice
    • Computer Science
    • Engineering
    • Communications
    • Literature

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Delita Martin
    • Linda Reyna Yáñez
    • Margaret Rose Henry
    • Kelvin Belcher
    • Andrew L. Jefferson Jr.
    • John Mallette
25. 

    #25

    Texas A&M University–Commerce

    #4697 institution's overall influence

    #232 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    60%

    Graduation

    42%

    Student body

    9K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1050/21

    Commerce, TX

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    What is Texas A&M University–Commerce known for?

    Texas A&M University–Commerce's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Education
    • Literature
    • Medical
    • History
    • Political Science
    • Business
    • Communications
    • Physics
    • Biology
    • Engineering

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Ron Newsome
    • Jordan Randall Smith
    • Herb Raybourn
    • Jimmy Turman
    • Darrell Tully
    • Roy Streit
    • Ernest Wallace
    • Autry Beamon
    • Wes Smith
    • Lil Brannon
    • Dee Mackey
    • Willie Thornton
26. 

    #26

    University of Houston

    #186 institution's overall influence

    #1064 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    63%

    Graduation

    54%

    Student body

    37K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1225/24

    Houston, TX

    View profile

    What is University of Houston known for?

    University of Houston's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Business
    • Engineering
    • Literature
    • Law
    • Education
    • Medical
    • Computer Science
    • Biology
    • Political Science
    • History

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Natalie Juncos
    • DeJon Jarreau
    • Samar Ali Khan
    • Marquez Stevenson
    • Averie Swanson
    • Marisa de los Santos
    • Cameron Burrell
    • Sarah Davis
    • Carlos Bell
    • Marty Wilde
    • Obi Igbokwe
    • Welcome W. Wilson Jr.
27. 

    #27

    Texas A&M University–Kingsville

    #6821 institution's overall influence

    #539 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    88%

    Graduation

    35%

    Student body

    7K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1030/19

    Kingsville, TX

    View profile

    What is Texas A&M University–Kingsville known for?

    Texas A&M University–Kingsville's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Education
    • Engineering
    • Mathematics
    • Business
    • History
    • Medical
    • Computer Science
    • Political Science
    • Literature
    • Biology

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Carlos F. Truan
    • Ernie Price
    • Richard Ritchie
    • Paschall Davis
    • Michael T. Boyd
    • Francisco Javier López
    • Doug Greene
    • Loyd Lewis
    • Jafus White
    • Zock Allen
    • Hall Whitley
    • Tom Janik
28. 

    #28

    Midwestern State University

    #3771 institution's overall influence

    #899 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    71%

    Graduation

    45%

    Student body

    5K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1025/19

    Wichita Falls, TX

    View profile

    What is Midwestern State University known for?

    Midwestern State University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Education
    • Medical
    • Business
    • Psychology
    • History
    • Political Science
    • Communications
    • Literature
    • Mathematics
    • Computer Science
29. 

    #29

    Texas Tech University

    #346 institution's overall influence

    #1458 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    70%

    Graduation

    59%

    Student body

    34K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1165/24

    Lubbock, TX

    View profile

    What is Texas Tech University known for?

    Texas Tech University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Engineering
    • Business
    • Education
    • Biology
    • Law
    • Medical
    • Literature
    • History
    • Philosophy
    • Communications

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Henry Colombi
    • Norense Odiase
    • Julie England
    • Delroy Poyser
    • Alan Bowman
    • Prince Scott
    • Walter Bryan
    • Shane Brathwaite
    • Jordan Randall Smith
    • Ruben Garcia Jr.
    • Orval Leroy Lewis
    • Dixie B. White
30. 

    #30

    Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi

    #8254 institution's overall influence

    #606 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    90%

    Graduation

    36%

    Student body

    10K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1105/21

    Corpus Christi, TX

    View profile

    What is Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi known for?

    Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Communications
    • Education
    • Business
    • History
    • Computer Science
    • Philosophy
    • Biology
    • Political Science
    • Literature
    • Engineering

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Joe Kilgore
    • Ehab Amin
    • Michael G. Reuscher
    • Rashawn Thomas
    • Shannon Shorter
    • Chris Daniels
    • Cassandra Jean
    • Rose Meza Harrison
    • Kevin Palmer

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