Guide to Best Colleges in Texas

Considering colleges in Texas? Our blog offers a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the abundance of options and find the best institutions for your higher education journey. We highlight the top colleges in Texas, showcasing their academic programs, campus life, and unique offerings. From the vibrant city campuses to the serene suburban settings, we provide insights into each college's strengths and opportunities. Whether you're interested in engineering, business, or liberal arts, our blog will help you make an informed decision about the best colleges in Texas that align with your academic and personal goals.

With a rich history, a diverse culture, and a more affordable cost of living, there are plenty of reasons students flock to Texas for their college career. If the Lone Star State is on your radar, this article about the best colleges in Texas might be exactly what you need.

Empowerly provides insightful expertise to high school students exploring their college options, and when it comes to finding the best public and private colleges in Texas, as well as any other post-high school educational route you might be looking into, we’ve done all of the hard work for you.

This article dives into all things Texas: why you might want to choose the Southern state as your number one college destination, the benefits and possible setbacks of doing so (both from an in-state and out-of-state perspective), and some of the best universities to look into, depending on your major of choice.

Why you might want to go to one of the best colleges in Texas

Many people are continuously moving to Texas – and for longtime residents of the state, this comes as no surprise. 

Texas enjoys a mild and largely consistent climate, a lower cost of living than the majority of the country, and tons of history and culture woven into its roots. The population is quickly increasing as a result – and many of those incoming, newly-minted residents are college students.

Are you thinking about applying to some of the best colleges in Texas? Here are a few reasons why that might be a good idea for you:

• As the second-largest state in the U.S., Texas has plenty of options to choose from when it comes to college applications. 

The Lone Star State has over 240 colleges for budding students to peruse when the time for applying rolls around.

This means a pretty wide variety of college types are available, depending on what you’re looking for. Are you interested in studying in a big city, a rural area, or somewhere in between?

Texas has plenty of options when it comes to your desired pace of living – and some of the best colleges in Texas to choose from no matter where you want to be located.

• Texas is known for having an overall lower cost of living compared to other states.

Cities tend to be more oversaturated and expensive to live in, but in Texas, the general cost of living is notably lower in comparison to other states – and this holds true even in the state’s populous cities, like Houston, Dallas, Austin, or San Antonio.

This is helpful for any student with a limited college budget, or for anyone who is looking for lower off-campus rent options (and other expenses they may incur throughout the duration of the school year).

• With more people moving to the Lone Star State every year, Texas has ever-growing employment opportunities for students looking for extra income.

Texas has created tens of thousands of new job opportunities over the past few years, and the state is projected to keep growing that number over the next decade.

Whether you’re looking for a part-time job to take on throughout your educational experience or are interested in staying in Texas after graduation to pursue the start of your career, these numbers are incredibly encouraging – and a great reason to add the state to your list of top contenders for your future.

• Many of the best colleges in Texas are recognized for their superior athletic programs.

Sports are huge in Texas – particularly football, which most residents are avid fans of. 

If you’re an athlete looking to continue your career in collegiate leagues, Texas is a great place to look. The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University are particularly renowned for their college football teams, which draw tens of thousands of fans at each game. 

• Texas has an internationally-recognized food scene begging to be explored.

Texas’s food scene is well-known around the world – particularly for its barbecue, and Mexican/Southwestern-specific cuisine like breakfast tacos, enchiladas, or fajitas.

Beyond these Southwestern basics, Texas has a pretty diverse range of cultures, with accompanying restaurants to connect with communities from around the world via the palate.

If high-quality food and a wide variety of cuisine are important to you, you’ll want to explore the best colleges in Texas in your application search.

• Texas boasts a rich history and a wide range of cultural diversity.

Texas’s diversity goes well beyond food. The state’s major cities – like Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio – have tons of museums, forts, and historical parks for visitors to explore, and the entire state is ripe with historical landmarks to check out.

• Texas has a regularly warm climate, which is great for outdoor lovers. 

Weather can get a little wild in Texas – especially during tornado season – but in general, the state enjoys a mild, warm climate, which is ideal for students who enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors.

Your environmental climate can have a major impact on your mental and physical well-being, so if you know you’re someone who doesn’t thrive in frigid climates or tons of gloomy days, Texas might be a good option for you.

There are plenty of great reasons to study in Texas, but there are a few other important factors to consider when applying to colleges throughout the nation.

Attending one of the best colleges in Texas will look vastly different, depending on whether you’re a resident of the state or an out-of-state applicant. Let’s dig into some of the pros and cons of being a Texan college student – both as a native Texan and a non-resident.

In-state students: Weighing the pros and cons

Possible pros:

• Lower cost of travel

Staying in-state eliminates the possibility of having to travel far for college – especially if you’re keeping it local to where you currently live. 

Attending school close to home also means you probably won’t have to live on campus, which can significantly reduce your cost of living for your college career. 

• Lower tuition fees

Publicly-funded state universities offer significant discounts for in-state students – like, over $20,000 per year. 

This number will vary depending on the school, but in general, you’re likely to incur much lower college costs as a residential student.

• Pre-existing familiarity with surroundings

Another possible upside to attending college in Texas as a Texan? You’re already home.

This means you’ll already be familiar with your surroundings – but depending on who you are and what you’re looking for with your college experience, this may not exactly be a pro.

• Closer to home and family/friends

Another pro that can also be viewed as a con is that going to college in your state of residence means you’ll be closer to home, family, and the friends you’ve grown up around.

But if sticking near your loved ones is really important to you, this is a major bonus when it comes to applying to the best colleges in Texas.

Possible cons

• Less chance of experiencing diversity and new cultures

Although Texas is ripe with diversity and a variety of cultures to explore, that might not have as powerful of an effect on someone who’s grown up in the state.

That being said, if you’re looking for exposure to new cultures, customs, and different ways of living, then attending college as an in-state resident might pale in comparison to looking elsewhere. 

• Less of a personal challenge

Public universities are also more likely to accept in-state students or to give them some sort of advantage during the application process.

Because of this, it’s easier to get accepted into one of the best colleges in Texas as a resident – but if you’re looking to really challenge yourself and branch out, that might not be a good thing for you. 

• Decreased sense of independence

Going to school in your home state – and possibly still living at home while doing so – can be great for saving money and providing you with a smoother transition from high school to college, but you may not have a big sense of independence if you take this route.

If that’s important to you as a budding college student, you may want to reconsider attending a college within your state of residence. 

Out-of-state Students: Weighing the pros and cons

Possible pros:

• The chance to experience a new culture and new surroundings

Whether you’re looking at the best public colleges in Texas or the best private colleges in Texas, there’s no denying that you’ll get to experience a whole new type of culture in brand new surroundings if you’re coming into the state as a non-resident.

This is a major reason students opt for leaving the nest to pursue their college careers: college is a time to branch out and explore who you are as an adult, and doing so away from home, while somewhat intimidating, can be one of the most rewarding experiences.

• An increase in independence

Attending one of the best colleges in Texas as a non-resident will provide you with an increased sense of independence, which is important for young adults to experience.

You’ll be watching out for yourself entirely and making your own rules – for possibly the first time in your life. A lot of value is reaped from getting to explore yourself and your limits in this way, and college can be a great place to start. 

• A wider range of school options

If you live in a tiny state with limited colleges in the area, then going out of state for your college career can really expand your horizon – especially if Texas is the destination.

From the best public colleges in Texas to the best private colleges in Texas, there are plenty of options for students to explore.

Possible cons:

• Higher tuition costs/overall college expenses

Being a non-resident student means that $20,000+ discount does not apply – and you’re also more likely to need to pay for things like food, housing, and other essentials for living on your own. 

• Higher cost of travel

Living out of state for college also means it will be more difficult for you to visit your family and friends – and more costly. 

• Unfamiliarity with surroundings

Going to school away from home means you’ll definitely be unfamiliar with your surroundings. This can be a good thing if you’re up for the challenge, but if that sounds like too much change at once, you might feel overwhelmed with the move. 

Whether you’re attending a Texas college as a resident or non-resident, there are plenty of options to explore before making the ultimate decision. 

While you’re still considering, let’s look at some of the best public colleges in Texas and the best private colleges in Texas. 

The top five best public colleges in Texas

1. University of Texas, Austin

Acceptance Rate: 32%

Top Majors: Biology, Liberal Arts and Humanities, Information Science

1. Texas A&M University

Acceptance Rate: 63%

Top Majors: Biomedical Sciences, Liberal Arts and Humanities, Psychology

1. Texas Tech University

Acceptance Rate: 70%

Top Majors: Business, Management, Marketing

1. University of Texas, Dallas

Acceptance Rate: 79%

Top Majors: Accounting, Biology, Information Sciences

1. University of Houston

Acceptance Rate: 63%

Top Majors: Exercise Science, Psychology, Wellness Studies

The top five best private colleges in Texas

1. Rice University

Acceptance Rate: 11%

Top Majors: Computer and Information Sciences, Economics, Psychology

1. Southern Methodist University

Acceptance Rate: 53%

Top Majors: Business, Management, Marketing

1. Trinity University

Acceptance Rate: 34%

Top Majors: Business, Management, Marketing

1. Texas Christian University

Acceptance Rate: 48%

Top Majors: Business, Management, Marketing

1. Baylor University

Acceptance Rate: 68%

Top Majors: Accounting, Biology, Nursing

Final Thoughts

Between the best private colleges in Texas and the best public colleges in Texas, Empowerly is here to help you succeed in your search.

Reach out today for more information on how we empower high school students across the nation to get into the school of their dreams.