by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Texas, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **115** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 115 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Your ideal college depends on your goals. Narrow your list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our tool College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter most to you.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Leading the list is The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston, our #1 college in Texas. This public school is set in Houston, TX. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,748, with out-of-state students paying around $43,132. Median early-career earnings reach $101,165. Students borrow a median of $21,988 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Rice University earned it the #2 place in Texas. This private not-for-profit school is set in Houston, TX. Rice University posts a six-year graduation rate of 95%. In-state tuition and fees run about $61,247. Rice University graduates report median early-career earnings of $75,299. The median student debt is $11,904.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Texas. Located in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,819 early in their careers. The median student debt is $21,275.
The University Of Texas Medical Branch came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Texas. Set in Galveston, TX, The University Of Texas Medical Branch is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,402, while out-of-state students pay about $28,011. Early-career graduates earn a median of $79,793. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Texas A And M University College Station earned it the #5 place in Texas. Based in College Station, TX, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Texas A And M University College Station posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Texas A And M University College Station graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,891. The median student debt is $20,031.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center placed #6 among the best colleges in Texas. Located in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,214, compared with $22,514 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $76,328. Students borrow a median of $24,889 to complete a degree here.
Texas Christian University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Fort Worth, TX, Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Texas Christian University posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,740. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,035. Typical student debt is $22,960.
Southern Methodist University landed the #8 spot in Texas this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Dallas, TX. Southern Methodist University posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,040. Median early-career earnings reach $70,632. Southern Methodist University students take on a median of $20,712 in debt.
The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio did well this year, earning the #9 position. This public school is set in San Antonio, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, with out-of-state students paying around $27,776. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $89,151. The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio students take on a median of $20,247 in debt.
Baylor University placed #10 among the best colleges in Texas. Set in Waco, TX, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. Baylor University posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. In-state tuition and fees run about $58,100. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,888. The median student debt is $23,928.
The University Of Texas Md Anderson Cancer Center landed the #11 spot in Texas this year. Set in Houston, TX, The University Of Texas Md Anderson Cancer Center is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,511, with out-of-state students paying around $23,731. Median early-career earnings reach $79,657. The University Of Texas Md Anderson Cancer Center students take on a median of $20,667 in debt.
Trinity University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Based in San Antonio, TX, Trinity University is a private not-for-profit institution. Trinity University graduates 84% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,676. Median early-career earnings reach $57,496. Graduates carry a median of $23,314 in student loans.
The University Of Texas At Dallas came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in Richardson, TX, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $14,644, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. Median early-career earnings reach $58,507. Students borrow a median of $20,531 to complete a degree here.
University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Dallas, TX. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $76,007.
Texas Tech University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Texas Tech University graduates 69% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,332. Typical student debt is $24,271.
University Of Houston placed #16 among the best colleges in Texas. University Of Houston is a public school based in Houston, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,529 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,255 to complete a degree here.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso did well this year, earning the #17 position. Set in El Paso, TX, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,050, compared with $27,170 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $67,322. Typical student debt is $25,000.
The University Of Texas At Arlington ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a public school based in Arlington, TX. About 54% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,950, while out-of-state students pay about $29,582. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $55,304. Students borrow a median of $21,632 to complete a degree here.
Baylor College Of Medicine placed #19 among the best colleges in Texas. Located in Houston, TX, Baylor College Of Medicine is a private not-for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $110,751.
University Of North Texas came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Based in Denton, TX, University Of North Texas is a public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,309 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,157. University Of North Texas students take on a median of $21,817 in debt.
University Of Dallas placed #21 among the best colleges in Texas. This private not-for-profit school is set in Irving, TX. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,930. Median early-career earnings reach $58,396. Typical student debt is $23,411.
University Of North Texas Health Science Center did well this year, earning the #22 position. Set in Fort Worth, TX, University Of North Texas Health Science Center is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,224 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,415 for out-of-state students. University Of North Texas Health Science Center graduates report median early-career earnings of $71,255.
Brite Divinity School came in at #23 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fort Worth, TX. Early-career graduates earn a median of $42,050.
Texas Womans University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Denton, TX. Texas Womans University graduates 49% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,640, with out-of-state students paying around $18,480. Texas Womans University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,611. Texas Womans University students take on a median of $24,211 in debt.
Texas State University San Marcos ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Texas State University San Marcos is a public school based in San Marcos, TX. Texas State University San Marcos posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,456. Typical student debt is $23,659.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
