Best Online Master’s Programs in Texas 2024

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Academic Influence Staff

Updated: Feb 22, 2024

Key Takeaways

There are numerous colleges in Texas that offer master’s degrees that can be completed entirely online.
Manufacturing, aerospace, biotech, and information technology are among the biggest industries in Texas, and there are a number of fully online master’s programs that can open career opportunities within these sectors.
An online master’s degree in Texas is a perfect option for busy working professionals.

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%
University of St. Thomas 97%
University of the Incarnate Word 94%
University of Texas at Tyler 94%
West Texas A&M University 92%
Dallas Baptist University 91%
Stephen F. Austin State University 90%
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 88%
St. Mary's University, Texas 86%

University of Texas at Dallas 27 to 1
University of Texas at Arlington 24 to 1
University of North Texas 23 to 1
University of Houston 21 to 1
Texas Tech University 21 to 1
Lamar University 20 to 1
Sam Houston State University 20 to 1
University of Texas at El Paso 19 to 1
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 19 to 1
Texas A&M University 18 to 1

Southern Methodist University $61,980
Rice University $54,960
Texas Christian University $53,980
Baylor University $51,738
St. Edward's University $50,766
University of Dallas $48,000
Abilene Christian University $40,500
Concordia University Texas $35,620
Dallas Baptist University $35,310
St. Mary's University, Texas $35,226

Rice University $51,634
Baylor University $38,772
University of Dallas $33,750
Texas Christian University $33,660
Southern Methodist University $31,590
St. Edward's University $28,980
Abilene Christian University $24,174
Dallas Baptist University $21,186
University of St. Thomas $20,934
St. Mary's University, Texas $19,224

Our Lady of the Lake University
West Texas A&M University
University of St. Thomas
Dallas Baptist University
University of Texas at Tyler
St. Edward's University
Dallas Theological Seminary
Concordia University Texas
Stephen F. Austin State University
Angelo State University

Our Lady of the Lake University
West Texas A&M University
Concordia University Texas
University of Texas at Tyler
St. Edward's University
University of St. Thomas
Dallas Baptist University
University of the Incarnate Word
Stephen F. Austin State University
Angelo State University

Rice University 9%
University of Texas at Austin 31%
Baylor University 46%
Southern Methodist University 52%
Texas Christian University 56%
University of Dallas 59%
Texas A&M University 63%
University of Houston 66%
Abilene Christian University 66%
Texas Tech University 67%

Rice University 6 to 1
St. Mary's University, Texas 11 to 1
Our Lady of the Lake University 11 to 1
Southern Methodist University 11 to 1
University of Dallas 12 to 1
Abilene Christian University 13 to 1
University of the Incarnate Word 13 to 1
Texas Christian University 14 to 1
St. Edward's University 14 to 1
University of St. Thomas 14 to 1

Angelo State University $4,495
Sam Houston State University $5,856
Lamar University $6,228
West Texas A&M University $6,372
Texas Southern University $6,941
University of Texas at Tyler $7,020
University of Texas at El Paso $7,704
Stephen F. Austin State University $7,842
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley $7,857
University of North Texas $8,295

Angelo State University $4,181
West Texas A&M University $5,088
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
Texas Southern University $6,858
Texas A&M University $6,885

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

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.

If you’re looking to earn an online master’s degree in the state of Texas, you’ll have plenty of top-ranked colleges and universities to choose from.

What are Texas’s Colleges & Universities?

Texas’s Best Overall

How do we determine Texas's best online master's degree programs?

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.

Best Online Master’s Programs in Texas 2023

Online master’s degrees offered by respected colleges and universities are generally respected by employers. The main thing to consider about your online master’s choices is whether the school name is well known and respected. In many cases, employers won’t know your degree was earned online. But even if they do, a degree from a respected college is automatically to your benefit.

We rank the colleges and universities in this list by the influence of their alumni and faculty. For master’s degree students, including online master’s degree students, having faculty who are influential in your field matters a lot. It’s a big indicator that you have the chance to get a quality education. And, knowing that you will join an alumni association with some impressive people is nice, too.

Student Submitted Questions About Online Master’s Programs in Texas

How much does an online master’s degree cost in Texas?

An online master’s degree costs about $40,000 for the average grad student in the United States. However, the cost of your online master’s degree in Texas will depend on the type of grad school you attend.

In 2018-2019, the average cost for a year of tuition in a public grad school was $12,171, while the average cost for a year of tuition in private, non-profit grad school was $27,776. Tuition at public colleges in Texas are close to the national average at $12,000 or less.

An online master’s degree will usually cost about the same as a traditional master’s degree. Some schools will charge 5-10% more for online courses. This added cost pays for the technology and specialized training needed for online instruction. But getting a master’s degree online can also help you save money.

The costs above don’t include expenses like housing, transportation, or certain campus fees. As an online grad student, you can save a lot of money by avoiding these added expenses.

Many online master’s degree programs are also accelerated. Most master’s degree programs are designed to be completed in two years. But you may be able to earn your online master’s degree in as little as 12-18 months. Earning an accelerated online master’s degree can save you money on tuition.

What can I expect from an online college course in Texas?

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently.

You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

Will employers in Texas respect my online degree?

As long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers in Texas won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

What are the advantages of online classes?

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work.

In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities—educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials.

And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

What are the disadvantages of online classes?

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through an online education, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting.

As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

What are the top industries in Texas for graduates with an online master’s degree?

The state of Texas is home to a skilled workforce, a competitive tax climate, and a favorable cost of doing business in the state, making Texas a prime location for numerous key business sectors.

The top industries in Texas include:

Advanced Manufacturing
Aerospace, Aviation, and Defense
Biotech and Life Sciences
Energy
Information Technology
Corporate Services

An online master’s degree in business, engineering, or a STEM field, could position graduates for advanced career opportunities in one of these key industries.

Texas is just one of many states offering excellent online master’s programs. To check out our rankings, look into the best online associate’s degrees in Ohio, Oregon, Missouri, and more!

Texas’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest

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Best Online Master’s Programs in Texas 2024

Key Takeaways

Top 10 Online Master's Programs in Texas

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Texas

What are Texas’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Online Master’s Programs in Texas 2023

Career Outlook for degree at University of Texas at Austin

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Texas A&M University

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

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Career Outlook for degree at Rice University

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of Houston

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Southern Methodist University

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Baylor University

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Texas Tech University

Online Master’s Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at University of Texas at Dallas

Online Master’s Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at University of North Texas

Online Master’s Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at University of Texas at Arlington

Online Master’s Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at Texas Christian University

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of Texas at El Paso

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Texas Southern University

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Sam Houston State University

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

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Career Outlook for degree at St. Mary's University, Texas

Online Master’s Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at Abilene Christian University

Online Master’s Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at University of Dallas

Online Master’s Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at Lamar University

Online Master’s Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at University of the Incarnate Word

Online Master’s Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at Angelo State University

Online Master’s Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at Stephen F. Austin State University

Online Master’s Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at Concordia University Texas