The 25 Best Colleges in Texas for 2019

With nearly 200 years of history under its belt, Southwestern University claims to be the first university in the Lone Star State. It’s one of the smallest colleges in Texas, sporting just over 1,500 students at a time. That gives its staff plenty of time to attend their charges as they pursue a classic liberal arts education. Civic-mindedness is a must, and students participate in community activities at more than twice the national average. There are 40 undergraduate majors and 36 undergraduate minors, divided between the art and science schools. New students should explore the First Year Seminar, meant to help them bridge the gap between high school and college.

The school is located in historic Georgetown, within easy driving distance of Austin for a weekend of music and restaurants. The city is a model of green energy, getting 100% of its power from renewable sources. You might spy some famous film locations there, as movies like Dazed and Confused and television shows like Friday Night Lights have been shot in the city.

Founded in 1849 by a Princeton-educated Presbyterian missionary, Austin College is the oldest institute of higher learning in Texas. It’s a small, private liberal arts college with an emphasis on turning out great teachers. A five-year master of arts in education is currently their only graduate program, but students can pursue 55 other undergraduate majors, ranging from film studies to neuroscience. Its student body of around 1,300 is required to live on campus.

Sherman, where the school is located, is a quiet place. Students can enjoy quaint parks and regular music festivals, as well as a variety of water activities in the summer thanks to its various pools.

This private Baptist university with large ambitions and a rising national reputation is making an effort to provide a more affordable education through the President’s Scholarship Initiative, a fundraising campaign initiated by the school that provides National Merit Finalists with between $28,000 and $88,000 for undergraduate studies over eight semesters.

The home of Dr Pepper, Waco is a relatively youthful and inexpensive city north of Austin and south of Dallas on the I-35 corridor.

This Texas college shows it has a heart as big as its massive campus and student body, offering a full-need, no-loan financial aid package to qualified Texas students from families making less than $60K a year.

A youthful and highly educated town, College Station offers country flavor in a conservative atmosphere and an exceptionally low cost of living.

A Catholic university that welcomes students of all faiths or none, 1,300 undergraduate students and 1,200 graduate students from across the U.S. and the world attend one of the best universities in Texas. The University of Dallas offers 29 undergraduate majors and more than 20 graduate programs, as well as other certification courses and noncredit education opportunities in the arts, humanities, sciences, education, business, and nursing. Students looking for an institute of learning with a staunchly conservative point of view will fit right in. William F. Buckley, Brad Miner, and Pat Buchanan have all been speakers there. Out of the online colleges in Texas, University of Dallas is ranked the best place to get a master’s in theology.

Students wishing to partake of the thriving culture and music scenes, the university is technically located in Irving--a suburb of Dallas--but who may not have a car, will find themselves well taken care of. The school has its own stop on the rail system, and can get you where you want to go within minutes.

Known for a willingness to cross disciplinary boundaries through its several multi/interdisciplinary degree programs, this university is making an effort to overcome class boundaries as well through its Tuition Promise Program, which covers tuition and fees through scholarships and grants for Texas students from families making less than $25,000 a year.

Richardson is an affluent and well-educated inner suburb of Dallas which manages to keep cost of living low for students.

Fr. Edward Sorin set sail from France in 1841 specifically to found St. Edward’s University, and it has been providing an excellent liberal arts education ever since. A private school in the Holy Cross tradition with 5,000 students, the school has 38 undergraduate majors and seven graduate programs. It is also one of the nation’s top producers of Fulbright scholars.

Have you been called to serve as a Christian spiritual leader, and want a first-class education to aid you in that endeavor? Then this might be the school for you. Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary aims to turn out preachers and scholars. The school offers both a bachelor of arts in religion and an associate of divinity, as well as four different master’s in further religious study. Fairly unique to the online colleges in Texas, students can acquire both undergraduate and graduate degrees on the internet.

Jacksonville, where the school is located, is the "Tomato Capital of the World," and hosts an annual Tomato Fest to celebrate that glorious achievement. Students can enjoy a leisurely time away from studies at Lake Jacksonville when the weather is nice.

This private university affiliated with the Churches of Christ has ambitions as large as the West Central Texas plains that surround it, publicly declaring its intent to become the premier university for training global Christian leaders.

Home to three private universities, Abilene is a mid-size university town with a low cost of living.

For over a century, Dallas Baptist University has been one of the best colleges in Texas. It’s perfect for students who like a cozy learning environment with its average class size of 11. There are 73 undergraduate programs, 31 master’s programs, and two doctoral programs to choose from. A variety of living arrangements are available on campus, everything from dormitories to three-bedroom townhomes.

The Remington College system includes 16 non-profit campuses looking to bring a non-traditional approach to secondary education. The Dallas campus is a hub of connections in the city where students can find networking opportunities in everything from technology to medicine to law enforcement thanks to the various partnerships the campus has with local organizations. They also have a fantastic online degree program for both associate and bachelor’s degrees. Business and medicine are two of the school’s main areas of focus.

The flagship university of the Texas Tech University System boasts one of the largest contiguous campuses in the country and a generous financial aid program that promises to cover all tuition and fees with scholarships and grants for Texas students from families making less than $40,000 a year. It truly is one of the best universities in Texas.

Known as "Hub City," Lubbock, is the economic, education, and healthcare hub of the South Plains region and offers students a remarkably low cost of living.

St. Mary’s University has long been recognized as both an excellent value for the education it provides and for their dedication to teaching the concept of public service. Founded in 1852, St. Mary’s has 52 bachelor’s programs, 19 master’s programs, and a law degree program. The university has many different initiatives designed to engage students in various good works in the community, particularly on the west side of San Antonio. Their latest annual staple is the 40 Days of Service during Lent, during which students can participate in hunger drives, blood drives, and other civic engagement activities.

This former technical college retains strengths in engineering and technology but has grown into a nationally recognized comprehensive Christian university with degrees in the liberal arts, education, and business, among others.

Longview is a small East Texas town with a low cost of living and the distinction of being the boyhood home of actors Matthew McConaughey and Forest Whitaker.

Nestled in quiet Seguin, Texas, near both Austin and San Antonio, Texas Lutheran University is a small school with a lot to offer. Average class size is just 20 students, which helps build a tight campus community dedicated to mutual benefit and understanding. It boasts a faith-based approach to a liberal arts education, and aims to send its graduates off with knowledge of a wide range of subjects. Bachelor’s programs focus on business, music, arts and nursing, with a master’s in accountancy also available. Their music program is particularly renowned, and a long list of scholarships are open to students interested in pursuing a melodic path in their education.

Texas Lutheran University is housed in historic Seguin, the birthplace of the famous Texas Rangers (the lawmen, not the baseball team). Appropriately for a school famous for its music program, Seguin has the only symphony in the region. Both Texan and Mexican festivals are annual events in the town. You will want to mark your calendar for the yearly chihuahua races.

The University of Houston is a sprawling, enormous campus in the southern part of the city. You can become almost anything there, with over 100 undergraduate majors and another 120 master’s programs available. Its theater program is one of the best in the country, and for the hard science student, you can be a part of over 25 world-class research centers. It’s located within easy driving distance of some of the best museums and dining in the Lone Star State.

Houston is well-known as a cosmopolitan and diverse city. Its low cost of living and multi-national populace give the metropolis a unique identity that has made it one of the most dynamic places to live in America.

More than 3,000 students are getting their higher learning through Houston Baptist University. Its 100-acre campus is located just minutes from downtown Houston. The school is dedicated to a Christian worldview, and all the values that implies. Students receive a personalized education in classes that often number 20 or less, and pursue degrees in business, Christian counseling, psychology, the liberal arts, visual arts, and education. A variety of master’s programs are available, primarily in religious or counseling disciplines. Both in-person and online programs are options for potential attendees.

The motto of the Gemini School is " "turning talent into a profession." This art school is turning out the next generation of visual artists, animators, video game makers, and other creators. Students earn a four-year diploma in visual arts and communications. It is only a single program, but it is extremely hands-on and dedicated to giving artists a solid foundation for whatever they might want to do after graduation.

The school is located in Cedar Park, a suburb of Austin. Skaters will feel right at home in the major skate park located in the city, and sports fans will be thrilled to attend top-tier minor league games in hockey and basketball.

Northwood University is dedicated to the idea of free enterprise, but in a respectful and socially conscious way. It is consistently ranked as one of the best places to pursue online degrees in the United States. The focus is entirely on the world of business, though there are some interesting niche programs such as hospitality management and sports promotion in their undergraduate courses. There are also four master’s programs, including one specifically designed to prepare students for a career with General Motors. If you’ve ever wanted to be the best car salesman ever, this is the path for you.

The Texas campus is located in Cedar Wood, a suburb southwest of Dallas on the shores of Joe Pool Lake. The nearby state parks and canyon are popular with hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Founded in 1947, this is the only Catholic university in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. As you would expect from a school named for one of the greatest thinkers in history, St. Thomas has a first-rate philosophy program that goes all the way up to the doctoral level. Other students can pursue education, business, or nursing. It has one of the best-ranked study abroad programs for undergraduates, making it an ideal school for those with travel on their mind.

The school is located in the Montrose area of Houston, a bustling historical neighborhood popular with artists and musicians.