Best Public Colleges in Texas 2024

Published: Mar 15, 2021
Updated: Oct 26, 2023

Public colleges and universities account for almost 75 percent of all undergraduate students in the U.S. The best public colleges in Texas provide broad access to reputable degree programs, affordable tuition, and sprawling educational communities.

University of Texas at Austin
Texas A&M University
University of Houston
Texas Tech University
University of North Texas
University of Texas at Dallas
University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at El Paso
Texas Southern University
Texas State University

University of Texas at El Paso 100%
Texas Southern University 97%
Texas Woman's University 94%
University of Texas at Tyler 94%
Midwestern State University 92%
West Texas A&M University 92%
Stephen F. Austin State University 90%
Texas State University 88%
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 88%
University of Texas at San Antonio 87%

University of Texas at Dallas 27 to 1
University of Texas at San Antonio 24 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
Texas State University 21 to 1
Lamar University 20 to 1
Sam Houston State University 20 to 1
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 19 to 1

University of Texas at Dallas $14,564
University of Texas at Austin $11,698
University of Texas at Arlington $9,206
Texas Tech University $8,935
Texas A&M University $8,815
University of Houston $8,685
Texas State University $8,606
University of North Texas $8,295
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley $7,857
Stephen F. Austin State University $7,842

University of Texas at Dallas $15,088
University of Texas at Austin $12,036
University of Texas at Arlington $9,015
University of Houston $8,713
University of Houston–Clear Lake $7,920
Texas State University $7,147
University of Texas at San Antonio $7,062
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley $7,002
Texas Tech University $6,956
Texas A&M University $6,885

West Texas A&M University
Tarleton State University
Midwestern State University
University of Houston–Clear Lake
University of Texas at Tyler
Texas A&M International University
Texas Woman's University
Stephen F. Austin State University
Angelo State University
Prairie View A&M University

Texas A&M International University
West Texas A&M University
Midwestern State University
University of Texas at Tyler
Tarleton State University
University of Houston–Clear Lake
Stephen F. Austin State University
Angelo State University
Prairie View A&M University
Lamar University

University of Texas at Austin 31%
Texas A&M International University 48%
Texas A&M University 63%
University of Houston 66%
Texas Tech University 67%
University of Houston–Clear Lake 69%
Prairie View A&M University 76%
Angelo State University 79%
University of North Texas 79%
University of Texas at Arlington 81%

University of Texas at Tyler 15 to 1
University of Houston–Clear Lake 15 to 1
Midwestern State University 16 to 1
Texas Woman's University 16 to 1
Prairie View A&M University 16 to 1
Tarleton State University 17 to 1
Stephen F. Austin State University 17 to 1
West Texas A&M University 17 to 1
Texas A&M University 18 to 1
University of Texas at Austin 18 to 1

Texas A&M International University $3,818
Tarleton State University $4,416
Angelo State University $4,495
Texas Woman's University $5,616
Sam Houston State University $5,856
Midwestern State University $5,877
University of Houston–Clear Lake $6,024
Lamar University $6,228
University of Texas at San Antonio $6,233
West Texas A&M University $6,372

Texas A&M International University $3,350
Angelo State University $4,181
Midwestern State University $4,246
Tarleton State University $4,356
West Texas A&M University $5,088
Texas Woman's University $5,112
Prairie View A&M University $5,191
Stephen F. Austin State University $5,262
Sam Houston State University $5,765
University of Texas at El Paso $5,865

Key Takeaways

The biggest public university in Texas and the second in the nation is Texas A&M University, with over 65,000 students.
The average tuition fee of the best public colleges in Texas is $8,016, excluding school fees, room and board, and textbooks and supplies.
Public colleges and universities in Texas offer various financial aid opportunities for their students through scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs.

Table of Contents

Studying in a Public College in Texas

Texas is tops in national rankings for education, which is why students are fighting for spots in the state’s top public universities.

Many students enroll in public colleges and universities because they are one of the most affordable options for a college degree. But affordability is just one of the factors that contribute to the popularity of these types of institutions.

Aside from affordable tuition fees, public colleges and universities in Texas offer many financial aid opportunities, diverse student bodies, world-class research opportunities, and a wide range of academic programs.

The Cost of Education in Texas

While tuition has been increasing in the past few years, primarily because of inflation, Texas has still managed to have a low average annual cost for college education.

According to recent data, undergraduate tuition in Texas for in-state students is $8,016, which is significantly lower compared to the national average of $9,375.

Two of the most expensive public colleges in Texas include Texas A&M University at College Station, with an average of $8,974, and the University of Texas at Dallas, with an average of $13,992

Aside from tuition, students should also expect to pay additional fees in Texas public colleges. Fees for printing, registration, your application, and on-campus parking are a few examples.

For online students, some schools additionally charge a technology fee. Fees can mount up, even if they seem like a small fraction of your expenses.

Other factors aside from tuition and fees affect the cost of a college education in Texas. These factors include textbooks and supplies, with an average cost of $1,290 at a public four-year institution, and on-campus housing, with an average cost of $11,557.

Pros and Cons of Public College or University in Texas

Pros:

Excellent academic programs
Employment and economic opportunity
Low cost of living
Range of college cities and communities
Diversity and inclusion
Lifestyle and recreation

Cons:

Larger enrollments and class sizes compared to private colleges
Registration for preferred courses is often difficult
Overwhelming campus navigation

Ways to Lower the Cost of Public Colleges in Texas

Apply for Financial Aid

Public university students can expect to receive many financial aid opportunities. And on top of state and federal funding opportunities, many students are granted an institutional exemption and waiver programs from their universities, which reduces their tuition and fees significantly. 340,000 students in public colleges and universities in Texas have benefited from the institutional exemption and waiver programs.

Some of the best federal financial aid options in Texas include:

Public colleges and universities that offer the most financial aid include:

Texas Tech University
Tarleton State University
Texas Rio Grande Valley
University Of Houston
West Texas A& M University
Texas A&M International University
University of North Texas

Transfer Credits

Prospective students should consider transferring credits from a community college to lower their overall college expenses. Transferring credits to a four-year institution in Texas is simple, thanks to the state’s accredited community institutions.

Apply for Life Experience

By receiving college credit for prior experience, students can cut costs. Job experience, volunteer work, and military service may all be accepted as credit toward a degree. Additionally, students can use national assessment programs to test out of courses. Students who pass these exams can earn up to 30 college credits, equal to one year of undergraduate study.

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

What is the difference between public and private colleges?

Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.

Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.

This list is composed entirely of public colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 37 public universities in Texas. To be included in our list of the best public colleges in Texas, shcools must receive direct funding from the state, be fully accredited, and offer a broad range of bachelor’s degress.

How do we determine Texas's best public 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.

Best Public Colleges in Texas 2023

Texas’s Best Public College in Your Area of Interest

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 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 public colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top public colleges in every state.

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

Best Public Colleges in Texas 2024

10 Best Public Colleges in Texas

Key Takeaways

Studying in a Public College in Texas

The Cost of Education in Texas

Pros and Cons of Public College or University in Texas

Pros:

Cons:

Ways to Lower the Cost of Public Colleges in Texas

Apply for Financial Aid

Transfer Credits

Apply for Life Experience

Colleges and Universities in Texas

What are Texas’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Public Colleges 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 University of Houston

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 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 Prairie View A&M University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Angelo State University

Most Influential Alumni

Angelo State University’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 Texas A&M International 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 University of Houston–Clear Lake

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Midwestern State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Tarleton State University

Most Influential Alumni