Best Value Texas Colleges

Texas has 55 colleges ranked by value, part of our national best value ranking. We weigh academic quality against average net price so you find schools that deliver strong results without overpaying.

Rice University offers the best value in Texas for 2027 with a 10 out of 10 academic rating and an average net price of $23,589. The top value public university is The University of Texas at Austin. Also high value: Trinity University, Austin College and The University of Texas at Austin.

Compare net price, aid, and academic ratings across the colleges below. See how value scores are calculated on our methodology page. Sort by net price, acceptance rate, or academic rating to find the best deal for your budget.

55 Results
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Texas Public Private 4 Year

  • Private 4 Year
  • Houston, TX
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Jan 1 application deadline

Rice is a highly selective private university known for undergraduate engineering, architecture, and the natural sciences. Most undergraduates live in residential colleges that organize dining and social life on the urban Houston campus.

#1 Best Value in Texas 10/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1510-1570
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.96
  • Acceptance Rate 8%
  • Net Price $23,589
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • San Antonio, TX
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Trinity is a private university known for undergraduate business, communication, and the sciences. Most students live on a residential hilltop campus overlooking downtown San Antonio.

#2 Best Value in Texas 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1340-1500
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 26%
  • Net Price $32,224
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Sherman, TX
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jul 31 application deadline

Austin College is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate sciences and international studies. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in Sherman, north of Dallas.

#3 Best Value in Texas 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.63
  • Acceptance Rate 48%
  • Net Price $23,462
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Austin, TX
  • 5.0 | 4 reviews
  • Dec 1 application deadline

UT Austin is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate business, engineering, and computer science. The urban campus occupies a large site in central Austin.

#4 Best Value in Texas 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1250-1510
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.8
  • Acceptance Rate 27%
  • Net Price $17,942
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Richardson, TX
  • 4.3 | 3 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

UT Dallas is a public university known for undergraduate computer science, engineering, and business. The suburban Richardson campus sits in the Dallas area's tech corridor.

#5 Best Value in Texas 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1410
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.78
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $14,916
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Irving, TX
  • 4.2 | 5 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

University of Dallas is a private Catholic university known for a Great Books core curriculum and undergraduate work in philosophy, politics, and the humanities. The suburban campus sits in Irving just outside Dallas.

#6 Best Value in Texas 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1120-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.9
  • Acceptance Rate 53%
  • Net Price $29,209
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • College Station, TX
  • 5.0 | 6 reviews
  • Dec 1 application deadline

Texas A&M is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, agriculture, and business. A large Corps of Cadets gives the College Station campus a long-standing military tradition.

#7 Best Value in Texas 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1400
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $21,437
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Houston, TX
  • 4.0 | 7 reviews
  • May 31 application deadline

University of Houston is a large public university known for undergraduate hospitality management, business, and engineering. The urban campus sits in southeast Houston.

#8 Best Value in Texas 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.46
  • Acceptance Rate 74%
  • Net Price $14,309
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Georgetown, TX
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Southwestern is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate study in the arts and sciences. Most students live on the residential campus in historic Georgetown, north of Austin.

#9 Best Value in Texas 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 43%
  • Net Price $32,228
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Austin, TX
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Saint Edward's is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate liberal arts, business, and education. The hilltop campus in South Austin overlooks the downtown skyline.

#10 Best Value in Texas 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1240
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $28,766
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • San Antonio, TX
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

St. Mary's is a private Marianist Catholic university known for undergraduate business and criminal justice. The urban campus sits on San Antonio's near West Side.

#11 Best Value in Texas 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1310
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $20,412
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Fort Worth, TX
  • 4.8 | 4 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

TCU is a private university known for undergraduate business and communications. The residential campus sits a few miles from downtown Fort Worth.

#12 Best Value in Texas 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1350
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 44%
  • Net Price $41,848
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Dallas, TX
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

SMU is a private university known for undergraduate business and the performing arts. The campus occupies University Park, a residential enclave within Dallas.

#13 Best Value in Texas 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1340-1490
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 63%
  • Net Price $48,179
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Lubbock, TX
  • 3.9 | 10 reviews

Texas Tech is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, agriculture, and business. The Lubbock campus is marked by Spanish Renaissance architecture on the South Plains of West Texas.

#14 Best Value in Texas 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1090-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.76
  • Acceptance Rate 73%
  • Net Price $16,919
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Abilene, TX
  • 3.7 | 6 reviews
  • Feb 15 application deadline

ACU is a private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies, nursing, and business. Most undergrads live on its residential campus in Abilene, a city in West Texas.

#15 Best Value in Texas 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $28,760
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Longview, TX
  • 4.0 | 3 reviews

LeTourneau is a private Christian university known for undergraduate engineering and aviation. The campus is in Longview in East Texas.

#16 Best Value in Texas 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 990-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.66
  • Acceptance Rate 38%
  • Net Price $29,799
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tyler, TX
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Aug 24 application deadline

UT Tyler is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and engineering. The campus is in the East Texas city of Tyler.

#17 Best Value in Texas 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.44
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $14,476
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Plainview, TX
  • 2.5 | 2 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Wayland Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate education, business, and Christian studies. The campus is in the small city of Plainview on the Texas High Plains.

#18 Best Value in Texas 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1090
  • Avg GPA 3.14
  • Acceptance Rate 56%
  • Net Price $20,446
Details