Best Colleges in Texas by ROI

Trying to find the best value in Texas? We ranked all 82 colleges we track here on what graduates actually earn versus what families actually pay, using U.S. Department of Education data. Rice University comes out on top at 98/100 - here's how every school compares.

82
Schools
49
Avg ROI Score
$18,724
Avg Net Price
98
Top Score

We scored all 82 Texas colleges in our dataset from 0 to 100 on one thing: financial return. The state averages 49/100, on an average net price of $18,724 a year after grants and scholarships. The school that does best by your money is Rice University at 98/100.

Graduates of West Coast University-Texas earn the most ten years out of any school in the state, a median $102,672. The lightest price tag belongs to College of Biblical Studies-Houston at $672 a year. The list below ranks every Texas college we scored by ROI, so you can weigh what you'd pay against what you'd likely earn.

Top 10 Texas Colleges by ROI Score

  1. 1Rice UniversityHouston, TX · Private Nonprofit98ROI
  2. 2The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX · Public90ROI
  3. 3Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX · Public89ROI
  4. 4Trinity UniversitySan Antonio, TX · Private Nonprofit85ROI
  5. 5The University of Texas at DallasRichardson, TX · Public84ROI
  6. 6University of HoustonHouston, TX · Public80ROI
  7. 7Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX · Private Nonprofit79ROI
  8. 8The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, TX · Public76ROI
  9. 9Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, TX · Public76ROI
  10. 10West Coast University-TexasRichardson, TX · Private For-Profit76ROI

Texas College ROI: Common Questions

What is the best-value college in Texas?

Rice University has the highest ROI score in Texas at 98/100, while the lowest net price among Texas schools we track is $672/year at College of Biblical Studies-Houston. Rankings are based on net price and median graduate earnings from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

How much does college cost in Texas?

The average net price across the 82 Texas colleges in our dataset is $18,724 per year, after grants and scholarships are applied. Actual cost varies widely by family income and institution.

Which Texas college has the highest graduate earnings?

West Coast University-Texas reports the highest median earnings among Texas schools we scored, at $102,672 ten years after enrollment. Higher earnings do not always mean better ROI, since cost matters just as much.

How many colleges in Texas did CampusROI analyze?

We scored 82 colleges in Texas on return on investment. Of those, 30 earn an ROI score of 60 or higher. See our methodology for how each score is calculated.

All Texas Schools by ROI Score

82 schools

98

Rice University

Houston, TX

Exceptional ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$13,370
Earnings
$89,718
Completion
95%
90

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX

Exceptional ValuePublic
Net Price
$19,857
Earnings
$75,121
Completion
89%
89

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX

Strong ValuePublic
Net Price
$21,315
Earnings
$72,097
Completion
84%
85

Trinity University

San Antonio, TX

Strong ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$23,464
Earnings
$71,668
Completion
84%
84

The University of Texas at Dallas

Richardson, TX

Strong ValuePublic
Net Price
$18,267
Earnings
$68,227
Completion
76%
80

University of Houston

Houston, TX

Strong ValuePublic
Net Price
$14,276
Earnings
$62,377
Completion
65%
79

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX

Strong ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$40,892
Earnings
$78,354
Completion
84%
76

The University of Texas at Arlington

Arlington, TX

Strong ValuePublic
Net Price
$13,951
Earnings
$63,199
Completion
54%
76

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, TX

Strong ValuePublic
Net Price
$19,070
Earnings
$62,454
Completion
69%
76

West Coast University-Texas

Richardson, TX

Strong ValuePrivate For-Profit
Net Price
$25,992
Earnings
$102,672
Completion
11%
73

Chamberlain University-Texas

Houston, TX

Fair ValuePrivate For-Profit
Net Price
$32,209
Earnings
$92,405
Completion
25%
72

The University of Texas at Tyler

Tyler, TX

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$13,323
Earnings
$57,053
Completion
54%
71

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, TX

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$36,660
Earnings
$68,424
Completion
86%
69

University of Houston-Clear Lake

Houston, TX

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$15,563
Earnings
$59,004
Completion
52%
69

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Edinburg, TX

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$4,831
Earnings
$49,620
Completion
51%
69

University of St Thomas

Houston, TX

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$19,359
Earnings
$59,224
Completion
69%
69

Texas Woman's University

Denton, TX

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$11,963
Earnings
$56,544
Completion
49%
68

Texas A & M International University

Laredo, TX

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$3,637
Earnings
$48,386
Completion
46%
68

The University of Texas at San Antonio

San Antonio, TX

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$10,836
Earnings
$57,131
Completion
53%
67

University of Houston-Victoria

Victoria, TX

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$8,109
Earnings
$54,467
Completion
26%
67

University of North Texas

Denton, TX

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$15,649
Earnings
$57,010
Completion
61%
67

The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$12,723
Earnings
$56,073
Completion
40%
66

Austin College

Sherman, TX

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$21,107
Earnings
$61,296
Completion
67%
65

Midwestern State University

Wichita Falls, TX

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$11,656
Earnings
$55,747
Completion
43%
63

Baylor University

Waco, TX

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$41,104
Earnings
$65,793
Completion
80%
63

Texas State University

San Marcos, TX

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$16,805
Earnings
$56,906
Completion
55%
62

University of Dallas

Irving, TX

Fair ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$22,610
Earnings
$58,285
Completion
73%
62

University of Houston-Downtown

Houston, TX

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$10,542
Earnings
$53,551
Completion
33%
61

The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$9,403
Earnings
$50,923
Completion
50%
60

Texas A&M University-San Antonio

San Antonio, TX

Fair ValuePublic
Net Price
$11,196
Earnings
$54,338
Completion
40%
58

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, TX

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$16,404
Earnings
$54,211
Completion
55%
57

Concordia University Texas

Austin, TX

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$23,131
Earnings
$60,883
Completion
45%
54

Houston Christian University

Houston, TX

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$20,629
Earnings
$55,933
Completion
49%
54

Saint Edward's University

Austin, TX

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$25,578
Earnings
$58,826
Completion
63%
54

Southwestern University

Georgetown, TX

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$29,224
Earnings
$56,878
Completion
73%
53

Lamar University

Beaumont, TX

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$9,366
Earnings
$49,652
Completion
37%
52

Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Kingsville, TX

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$12,090
Earnings
$51,450
Completion
42%
51

Abilene Christian University

Abilene, TX

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$26,182
Earnings
$55,736
Completion
59%
51

Dallas Baptist University

Dallas, TX

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$28,516
Earnings
$56,807
Completion
57%
51

East Texas A&M University

Commerce, TX

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$11,841
Earnings
$50,296
Completion
43%
51

Hardin-Simmons University

Abilene, TX

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$19,555
Earnings
$54,771
Completion
46%
51

St. Mary's University

San Antonio, TX

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$21,145
Earnings
$56,955
Completion
59%
50

LeTourneau University

Longview, TX

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$28,185
Earnings
$57,103
Completion
59%
49

Angelo State University

San Angelo, TX

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$15,091
Earnings
$50,116
Completion
44%
49

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, TX

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$20,783
Earnings
$53,040
Completion
48%
49

West Texas A & M University

Canyon, TX

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$19,487
Earnings
$50,741
Completion
55%
48

Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, TX

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$15,225
Earnings
$51,865
Completion
40%
47

Stephen F Austin State University

Nacogdoches, TX

Below Average ValuePublic
Net Price
$14,260
Earnings
$49,634
Completion
53%
46

Lubbock Christian University

Lubbock, TX

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$24,456
Earnings
$53,787
Completion
51%
45

University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$22,775
Earnings
$56,733
Completion
51%
45

Texas Lutheran University

Seguin, TX

Below Average ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$24,654
Earnings
$53,863
Completion
54%
44

Baptist University of the Americas

San Antonio, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$10,964
Earnings
$37,709
Completion
80%
43

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

Belton, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$26,106
Earnings
$56,132
Completion
49%
43

College of Biblical Studies-Houston

Houston, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$672
Earnings
$39,260
Completion
40%
41

Southwestern Adventist University

Keene, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$22,778
Earnings
$52,946
Completion
52%
40

East Texas Baptist University

Marshall, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$23,911
Earnings
$52,788
Completion
47%
39

Schreiner University

Kerrville, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$21,507
Earnings
$52,228
Completion
43%
39

Parker University

Dallas, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$29,135
Earnings
$42,091
Completion
74%
38

Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$20,590
Earnings
$51,838
Completion
19%
37

Texas Wesleyan University

Fort Worth, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$24,066
Earnings
$54,053
Completion
32%
36

Texas A&M University-Texarkana

Texarkana, TX

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$12,997
Earnings
$45,515
Completion
30%
35

Our Lady of the Lake University

San Antonio, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$16,442
Earnings
$48,675
Completion
46%
33

Messenger College

Bedford, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$26,433
Earnings
$29,463
Completion
100%
31

McMurry University

Abilene, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$19,581
Earnings
$48,779
Completion
44%
31

Sul Ross State University

Alpine, TX

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$13,286
Earnings
$41,871
Completion
30%
31

The King's University

Southlake, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$14,140
Earnings
$41,471
Completion
47%
31

Criswell College

Dallas, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$21,630
Earnings
$43,185
Completion
50%
27

Howard Payne University

Brownwood, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$23,627
Earnings
$48,376
Completion
28%
27

Prairie View A & M University

Prairie View, TX

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$13,570
Earnings
$45,411
Completion
43%
24

Hallmark University

San Antonio, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$12,513
Earnings
$40,183
Completion
66%
23

Nelson University

Waxahachie, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$21,662
Earnings
$46,238
Completion
42%
18

Dallas Christian College

Dallas, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$22,960
Earnings
$43,503
Completion
29%
16

Wade College

Dallas, TX

Poor ValuePrivate For-Profit
Net Price
$20,778
Earnings
$36,657
Completion
54%
14

Arlington Baptist University

Arlington, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$24,906
Earnings
$44,644
Completion
19%
14

Huston-Tillotson University

Austin, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$19,719
Earnings
$42,937
Completion
34%
11

Paul Quinn College

Dallas, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$12,709
Earnings
$29,288
Completion
27%
10

Texas Southern University

Houston, TX

Poor ValuePublic
Net Price
$16,590
Earnings
$38,924
Completion
22%
7

South University-Austin

Round Rock, TX

Poor ValuePrivate For-Profit
Net Price
$25,680
Earnings
$34,421
Completion
0%
6

American InterContinental University-Houston

Houston, TX

Poor ValuePrivate For-Profit
Net Price
$20,249
Earnings
$36,144
Completion
5%
5

Wiley University

Marshall, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$7,092
Earnings
$33,159
Completion
24%
4

Jarvis Christian University

Hawkins, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$9,825
Earnings
$32,992
Completion
15%
4

Texas College

Tyler, TX

Poor ValuePrivate Nonprofit
Net Price
$10,958
Earnings
$33,752
Completion
14%

Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release