Top Ranked Colleges: Universities | Public Universities | Liberal Arts Colleges | Engineering | Business | Women's | Most Selective
Texas has some excellent options for higher education. From giant public universities to small Catholic colleges, Texas offers something for students with wide-ranging interests and backgrounds. The 13 top Texas colleges listed below vary so much in size and type of school that I have simply listed them alphabetically rather than force them into any sort of artificial ranking.
Compare Top Texas Colleges: SAT Scores | ACT Scores
Austin College
austrini / Flickr
- Location: Sherman, Texas
- Enrollment: 1,298 (1,263 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: Liberal Arts College Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church
- Distinctions: high number of graduates go on to graduate school; emphasis on community service and study abroad; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; most students receive significant grant aid
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Austin College profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Austin College
Baylor University
genvessel / Flickr
- Location: Waco, Texas
- Enrollment: 14,541 (12,162 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: Private University Affiliated with the Baptist Church
- Distinctions: 145 areas of study and 300 student organizations; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; Baylor Bears compete in the NCAA Division I Big 12 Conference
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Baylor University profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Baylor
Rice University
Rice MBA / Flickr
- Location: Houston, Texas
- Enrollment: 5,357 (3,120 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: Private University
- Distinctions: most selective university in Texas; amazing 5 to 1 student / faculty ratio; excellent retention and graduation rates; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; member of the Association of American Universities for strong research programs; Rice Owls compete in the NCAA Division I Conference USA (C-USA)
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Rice University profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Rice
St. Edward's University
kinez / Flickr
- Location: Austin, Texas
- Enrollment: 5,348 (4,282 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: Private Catholic University
- Distinctions: good grant aid; 15 to 1 student / faculty ratio; named an "Up-and-Coming University" by U.S. News & World Report; curricular emphasis on experiential and service-oriented learning
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the St. Edward's University profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for St. Edward's
Southern Methodist University (SMU)
ruthieonart / Flickr
- Location: Dallas, Texas
- Enrollment: 10,965 (6,240 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: Private University Affiliated with the Methodist Church
- Distinctions: strong Cox School of Business and Meadows School of the Arts; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; SMU Mustangs compete in the NCAA Division I Conference USA
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the SMU profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for SMU
Southwestern University
Dustin Coates / Flickr
- Location: Georgetown, Texas
- Enrollment: 1,270 (all undergraduate)
- Type of Institution: Private Liberal Arts College
- Distinctions: founded in 1840 and the oldest university in Texas; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; highly rated liberal arts college; good grant aid
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Southwestern University profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Southwestern
Texas A&M, College Station
Blue Ag09 / Flickr
- Location: College Station, Texas
- Enrollment: 48,039 (38,430 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: Public Research University
- Distinctions: Senior Military College; strong engineering and agriculture programs; member of the Association of American Universities for strong research programs; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; Texas A&M Aggies compete in the Division I SEC Conference
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Texas A&M profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Texas A&M
Texas Christian University
adamr.stone / Flickr
- Location: Fort Worth, Texas
- Enrollment: 8,696 (7,471 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: Private University Affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
- Distinctions: recent massive investment in new facilities and upgrades; 14 to 1 student / faculty ratio; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; Texas Christian Horned Frogs compete in the NCAA Division I Mountain West Conference
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Texas Christian University profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for TCU
Texas Tech
finna dat / Flickr
- Location: Lubbock, Texas
- Enrollment: 28,422 (23,107 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: Public Research University
- Distinctions: huge 1,839-acre campus; degrees offered in 150 majors; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; Texas Tech Red Raiders compete in the NCAA Division I Big 12 Conference
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Texas Tech profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Texas Tech
Trinity University
N1NJ4 / Flickr
- Location: San Antonio, Texas
- Enrollment: 2,703 (2,489 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: Small Private University
- Distinctions: 10 to 1 student / faculty ratio; historic ties to the Presbyterian church; students come from 45 states and 64 countries; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Trinity University profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Trinity
