Texas ranking · College Scorecard · Mar-Jul 2026 retrievals
Best Colleges in Texas
Using U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data retrieved March-July 2026, these operating Texas colleges (undergraduate enrollment 1,000+) rank highest on value: median earnings ten years after enrollment minus average net price. That single gap is the sort key - not prestige, selectivity, or a composite score.
- $76,348
- Top earnings-price gap
- 100
- Texas colleges ranked
- $13,370
- #1 avg net price
The list in one line
Among Texas colleges with enrollment of 1,000+, every school on this list clears a $29,528 earnings-minus-net-price gap. Rice University leads at $76,348.
According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
- $76,348
- #1 - Rice University
- $89,718
- #1 ten-year median earnings
- $29,528
- #100 cutoff gap
- 1,000+
- undergraduate enrollment floor
Value = 10-year median earnings - average net price for federal-aid students. See methodology for cohort and lag details.
Top 15 Texas colleges by earnings-price gap
Higher gap = more earnings relative to average net price
- Rice University
Rice University
$76,348 earnings - net price
- Chamberlain University-T…
Chamberlain University-Texas
$60,196 earnings - net price
- The University of Texas at
The University of Texas at Austin
$55,264 earnings - net price
- Texas A&M University-Col…
Texas A&M University-College Station
$50,782 earnings - net price
- The University of Texas at
The University of Texas at Dallas
$49,960 earnings - net price
- West Coast University-Te…
West Coast University-Texas
$49,652 earnings - net price
- The University of Texas at
The University of Texas at Arlington
$49,248 earnings - net price
- Trinity University
Trinity University
$48,204 earnings - net price
- University of Houston
University of Houston
$48,101 earnings - net price
- Texas A&M University-Vic…
Texas A&M University-Victoria
$46,358 earnings - net price
- The University of Texas at
The University of Texas at San Antonio
$46,295 earnings - net price
- The University of Texas …
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
$44,789 earnings - net price
- Texas A & M International
Texas A & M International University
$44,749 earnings - net price
- Texas Woman's University
Texas Woman's University
$44,581 earnings - net price
- Midwestern State Univers…
Midwestern State University
$44,091 earnings - net price
What this shows Specialized health and career schools can rank highly when program mix lifts earnings; compare completion rates and debt on each school profile before reading value as overall quality.
The full Texas list
| # | School Name | Median Earnings (10yr) | Avg Net Price | Earnings - Price | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rice University | $89,718 | $13,370 | $76,348 | 4,776 |
| 2 | Chamberlain University-Texas | $92,405 | $32,209 | $60,196 | 2,270 |
| 3 | The University of Texas at Austin | $75,121 | $19,857 | $55,264 | 42,855 |
| 4 | Texas A&M University-College Station | $72,097 | $21,315 | $50,782 | 59,615 |
| 5 | The University of Texas at Dallas | $68,227 | $18,267 | $49,960 | 21,751 |
| 6 | West Coast University-Texas | $102,672 | $53,020 | $49,652 | 2,673 |
| 7 | The University of Texas at Arlington | $63,199 | $13,951 | $49,248 | 32,294 |
| 8 | Trinity University | $71,668 | $23,464 | $48,204 | 2,505 |
| 9 | University of Houston | $62,377 | $14,276 | $48,101 | 38,380 |
| 10 | Texas A&M University-Victoria | $54,467 | $8,109 | $46,358 | 2,513 |
| 11 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | $57,131 | $10,836 | $46,295 | 30,580 |
| 12 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | $49,620 | $4,831 | $44,789 | 28,666 |
| 13 | Texas A & M International University | $48,386 | $3,637 | $44,749 | 6,667 |
| 14 | Texas Woman's University | $56,544 | $11,963 | $44,581 | 8,767 |
| 15 | Midwestern State University | $55,747 | $11,656 | $44,091 | 4,087 |
| 16 | The University of Texas at Tyler | $57,053 | $13,323 | $43,730 | 7,440 |
| 17 | University of Houston-Clear Lake | $59,004 | $15,563 | $43,441 | 6,078 |
| 18 | Texas Tech University | $62,454 | $19,070 | $43,384 | 32,394 |
| 19 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | $56,073 | $12,723 | $43,350 | 3,911 |
| 20 | Texas A&M University-San Antonio | $54,338 | $11,196 | $43,142 | 6,599 |
| 21 | University of Houston-Downtown | $53,551 | $10,542 | $43,009 | 12,555 |
| 22 | The University of Texas at El Paso | $50,923 | $9,403 | $41,520 | 21,005 |
| 23 | University of North Texas | $57,010 | $15,649 | $41,361 | 34,341 |
| 24 | Brazosport College | $45,910 | $4,732 | $41,178 | 2,622 |
| 25 | Wharton County Junior College | $44,960 | $4,666 | $40,294 | 4,585 |
| 26 | Lamar University | $49,652 | $9,366 | $40,286 | 8,150 |
| 27 | Austin College | $61,296 | $21,107 | $40,189 | 1,165 |
| 28 | Texas State University | $56,906 | $16,805 | $40,101 | 36,177 |
| 29 | University of St Thomas | $59,224 | $19,359 | $39,865 | 3,220 |
| 30 | Collin County Community College District | $48,701 | $8,969 | $39,732 | 26,449 |
| 31 | Midland College | $43,958 | $4,512 | $39,446 | 5,542 |
| 32 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville | $51,450 | $12,090 | $39,360 | 4,748 |
| 33 | Victoria College | $42,382 | $3,043 | $39,339 | 2,351 |
| 34 | North Central Texas College | $45,809 | $6,587 | $39,222 | 5,863 |
| 35 | Texas Southmost College | $41,900 | $3,085 | $38,815 | 3,372 |
| 36 | Dallas College | $41,714 | $3,214 | $38,500 | 43,869 |
| 37 | East Texas A&M University | $50,296 | $11,841 | $38,455 | 9,912 |
| 38 | Tarrant County College District | $42,727 | $4,337 | $38,390 | 42,300 |
| 39 | College of the Mainland | $39,639 | $1,342 | $38,297 | 3,368 |
| 40 | Northwest Vista College | $42,490 | $4,525 | $37,965 | 13,993 |
| 41 | Sam Houston State University | $54,211 | $16,404 | $37,807 | 17,743 |
| 42 | Concordia University Texas | $60,883 | $23,131 | $37,752 | 1,185 |
| 43 | Southern Methodist University | $78,354 | $40,892 | $37,462 | 7,277 |
| 44 | Alvin Community College | $45,762 | $8,525 | $37,237 | 3,342 |
| 45 | Austin Community College District | $43,177 | $6,390 | $36,787 | 30,189 |
| 46 | Amarillo College | $41,302 | $4,600 | $36,702 | 7,399 |
| 47 | Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi | $51,865 | $15,225 | $36,640 | 8,034 |
| 48 | St. Mary's University | $56,955 | $21,145 | $35,810 | 1,951 |
| 49 | University of Dallas | $58,285 | $22,610 | $35,675 | 1,403 |
| 50 | Odessa College | $42,026 | $6,368 | $35,658 | 4,654 |
| 51 | Blinn College District | $46,318 | $10,844 | $35,474 | 15,535 |
| 52 | Stephen F Austin State University | $49,634 | $14,260 | $35,374 | 8,728 |
| 53 | Houston Christian University | $55,933 | $20,629 | $35,304 | 2,886 |
| 54 | Lee College | $42,178 | $6,879 | $35,299 | 5,116 |
| 55 | Del Mar College | $38,656 | $3,399 | $35,257 | 9,501 |
| 56 | Hardin-Simmons University | $54,771 | $19,555 | $35,216 | 1,283 |
| 57 | San Antonio College | $39,711 | $4,585 | $35,126 | 16,416 |
| 58 | South Texas College | $36,788 | $1,751 | $35,037 | 15,856 |
| 59 | Angelo State University | $50,116 | $15,091 | $35,025 | 5,643 |
| 60 | Grayson College | $40,873 | $5,880 | $34,993 | 3,075 |
| 61 | Lamar State College-Orange | $36,587 | $1,655 | $34,932 | 1,391 |
| 62 | South Plains College | $41,276 | $6,791 | $34,485 | 6,005 |
| 63 | Trinity Valley Community College | $38,567 | $4,092 | $34,475 | 5,655 |
| 64 | Lamar State College-Port Arthur | $37,120 | $2,846 | $34,274 | 1,508 |
| 65 | McLennan Community College | $39,163 | $5,051 | $34,112 | 5,668 |
| 66 | Vernon College | $40,464 | $6,404 | $34,060 | 2,113 |
| 67 | University of the Incarnate Word | $56,733 | $22,775 | $33,958 | 4,440 |
| 68 | St Philip's College | $38,224 | $4,273 | $33,951 | 12,914 |
| 69 | Houston City College | $39,254 | $5,737 | $33,517 | 40,503 |
| 70 | Saint Edward's University | $58,826 | $25,578 | $33,248 | 2,493 |
| 71 | Palo Alto College | $37,448 | $4,463 | $32,985 | 8,801 |
| 72 | Kilgore College | $37,975 | $5,364 | $32,611 | 3,215 |
| 73 | Texas A&M University-Texarkana | $45,515 | $12,997 | $32,518 | 1,982 |
| 74 | Weatherford College | $42,397 | $9,967 | $32,430 | 5,094 |
| 75 | Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio | $61,480 | $29,104 | $32,376 | 2,953 |
| 76 | Tarleton State University | $53,040 | $20,783 | $32,257 | 12,673 |
| 77 | Howard College | $38,382 | $6,147 | $32,235 | 1,611 |
| 78 | Our Lady of the Lake University | $48,675 | $16,442 | $32,233 | 1,066 |
| 79 | Abilene Christian University-Undergraduate Online | $55,736 | $23,698 | $32,038 | 1,219 |
| 80 | El Paso Community College | $35,212 | $3,206 | $32,006 | 24,214 |
| 81 | Hill College | $39,572 | $7,577 | $31,995 | 2,253 |
| 82 | Prairie View A & M University | $45,411 | $13,570 | $31,841 | 8,877 |
| 83 | Texas Christian University | $68,424 | $36,660 | $31,764 | 11,026 |
| 84 | Galen Health Institutes-Austin Campus | $61,480 | $30,187 | $31,293 | 1,161 |
| 85 | Galen Health Institutes-Houston | $61,480 | $30,222 | $31,258 | 1,582 |
| 86 | West Texas A & M University | $50,741 | $19,487 | $31,254 | 6,917 |
| 87 | Wayland Baptist University | $51,838 | $20,590 | $31,248 | 2,041 |
| 88 | Lone Star College System | $42,466 | $11,252 | $31,214 | 45,188 |
| 89 | Northeast Texas Community College | $37,870 | $6,706 | $31,164 | 1,973 |
| 90 | San Jacinto Community College | $43,062 | $12,143 | $30,919 | 22,969 |
| 91 | Panola College | $36,072 | $5,216 | $30,856 | 1,388 |
| 92 | Coastal Bend College | $35,086 | $4,237 | $30,849 | 1,958 |
| 93 | Central Texas College | $40,995 | $10,265 | $30,730 | 6,247 |
| 94 | Schreiner University | $52,228 | $21,507 | $30,721 | 1,053 |
| 95 | Galen Health Institutes-Dallas | $61,480 | $30,998 | $30,482 | 1,153 |
| 96 | Clarendon College | $38,696 | $8,390 | $30,306 | 1,520 |
| 97 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | $56,132 | $26,106 | $30,026 | 2,759 |
| 98 | Texas Wesleyan University | $54,053 | $24,066 | $29,987 | 1,741 |
| 99 | Abilene Christian University | $55,736 | $26,182 | $29,554 | 3,195 |
| 100 | Angelina College | $37,301 | $7,773 | $29,528 | 2,370 |
About This Ranking
Schools in Texas are ranked by the same value metric as the national best-value list: 10-year median earnings minus average net price. Only operating schools with at least 1,000 undergraduates and both figures published are included. Ties break toward larger enrollment. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See methodology.
Caveats and limitations
"Best" here means the largest earnings-minus-price gap among eligible Texas schools - not teaching quality, campus life, or the right fit for any applicant. Program mix (for example nursing or engineering) can lift institution-level earnings without proving a stronger undergraduate experience.
Earnings cover federally aided students only and describe a lagged cohort. Net price averages aided students and will not match every family's bill. Always open the school profile for completion, debt, and program detail.
This ranking is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or admissions advice.
Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Rankings are computed directly from College Scorecard and IPEDS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar-Jul 2026 retrievals.