Texas is the second-largest state in the country by size, trailing only Alaska, and the second-largest by population, trailing only California. However, there is also a large influx of people into the Lonestar State, recently, due to several factors, one of them being affordability.
The colleges are also affordable compared to the national median, and both private and public universities in Texas offer some of the best educations in the country.
Universities in Texas- 4-Year Colleges and Online
The University of Texas System is the largest collegiate employer with campuses all across the state, but there are several private universities in this extra-large state, too. Here is a closer look at the Texas college landscape for 4-year universities.
Public Universities in Texas
As mentioned above, the University of Texas System has the most students, on the whole, but they are spread around the state. Texas A&M University is the largest public university by enrollment, and it’s located in College Station, which is conveniently located between Dallas, Austin, and Houston, the most populated cities in the state.
Here are the other public universities in Texas that offer 4-year degrees:
- University of Houston (4 campuses)
- University of North Texas (3 campuses)
- University of Texas (8 campuses)
- Texas A&M University (11 campuses)
- Texas State University (4 campuses)
- Texas Tech University (5 campuses)
- Texas Women’s University
- Stephen F. Austin State University
- Texas Southern University
Private Universities in Texas
Baylor University, with an enrollment of just over 20,000 students, is the largest private university in Texas, and Southern Methodist University, Texas Christian University, and the University of the Incarnate Word all have more than 10,000 students. Here are the other private universities in Texas that offer students 4-year degrees:
- Abilene Christian University
- Dallas Baptist University
- Rice University
- St. Edwards University
- Houston Christian University
- Amberton University
- Arlington Baptist College
- Austin Graduate School of Theology
- Bakke Graduate University
- Bay Ridge Christian College
- Christ For The Nations Institute
- College of Saint Thomas More
- Concordia University Texas
- Criswell College
- Dallas Christian College
- Dallas International University
- Hallmark University
- East Texas Baptist University
- Hardin-Simmons University
- Howard Payne University
- Huston–Tillotson University
- Interactive College of Technology
- Jarvis Christian University
- LeTourneau University
- Lubbock Christian University
- North American University
- Our Lady of the Lake University
- Park University
- St. Mary’s University, Texas
- Southwestern Adventist University
- Southwestern Assemblies of God University
- Southwestern Christian College
- Texas College
- Texas Wesleyan University
- Trinity University
- University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
- University of St. Thomas
- Wayland Baptist University
- Western Governors University
- Wiley College
Community Colleges in Texas
No different than 4-year universities in Texas, there are a nearly endless amount of options for students who want to pursue a 2-year degree at the community college level.
- Alamo Community College District
- Northeast Lakeview College
- Northwest Vista College
- Palo Alto College
- San Antonio College
- St. Philip’s College
- Alvin Community College
- Amarillo College
- Angelina College
- Austin Community College District
- Blinn College
- Brazosport College
- Central Texas College
- Cisco College
- Clarendon College
- Coastal Bend College
- College of the Mainland
- Collin College
- Dallas College
- Del Mar College
- El Paso Community College
- Frank Phillips College
- Galveston College
- Grayson College
- Hill College
- Houston Community College
- Central College
- Coleman College of Health Sciences
- Northeast College
- Northwest College
- Southeast College
- Southwest College
- Howard County Junior College District
- Howard College
- Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf
- Kilgore College
- Laredo College
- Lee College
- Lone Star College System
- Lone Star College–CyFair
- Lone Star College-Kingwood
- Lone Star College–Montgomery
- Lone Star College–North Harris
- Lone Star College–Tomball
- Lone Star College-University Park
- McLennan Community College
- Midland College
- Navarro College
- North Central Texas College
- Northeast Texas Community College
- Odessa College
- Panola College
- Paris Junior College
- Ranger College
- San Jacinto College
- South Plains College
- South Texas College
- Southwest Texas Junior College
- Tarrant County College District
- Temple College
- Texarkana College
- Texas Southmost College
- Trinity Valley Community College
- Tyler Junior College
- Vernon College
- Victoria College
- Weatherford College
- Wharton County Junior College
Prominent Online Colleges in Texas
In keeping with the theme of “there are a lot of options in Texas,” here are some of the top-rated online offerings for 4-year degrees in Texas. Almost all of the state universities offer some kind of online coursework, though not always a full degree program.
- University of North Texas
- Texas Tech University
- Texas A&M
- University of Houston
Get to Know Texas
Texas is huge. Texas is populous. Texas has beaches, mountains, deserts, cities, small towns, ranches, and lakehouses, and it truly does have a place for every single college student, no matter your aspirations. There are even several liberal arts universities, which surprises some given the general stigma towards the Lonestar State. Texans are very proud, but also very welcoming, and even if you’re an out-of-state student, you can rest assured that some southern hospitality will be coming your way.
Students in Texas like to head to the Gulf of Mexico to beat the summer heat, and several popular Spring Break destinations are found on the Coast of Texas, with South Padre Island being one of the main ones, and also the southernmost city in Texas, located at the very tip.
As it can take several days to traverse the state, it’s safe to say there is something for everyone, especially if you don’t mind a little heat.