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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Best Schools in Texas

6 Colleges in the United States
884 Best Degrees Awarded
$58,091 Avg Early-Career Salary

Best degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for best students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Best in Texas

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the best degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Best

1

No school ranked higher than The University Of Texas At Austin this year for best. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 174 best degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $57,819 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,275. Read more about the best program at The University Of Texas At Austin

2
Rice University crest
Rice University
Houston, TX

Rice University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 52 best degrees were awarded at Rice University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for Rice University

3

Texas A And M University College Station is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 best students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $64,891 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for Texas A And M University College Station

4

Students looking for a strong best program will find one at The University Of Texas At Dallas, which ranked #4. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public school located in the city of Richardson. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 35 best students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent data year. Best graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of $58,507 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,531 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for The University Of Texas At Dallas

5

Students looking for a strong best program will find one at Southern Methodist University, which ranked #5. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 69 best students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Southern Methodist University earn around $70,632 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete this degree. Get the full best details for Southern Methodist University

6

Baylor University came in at #6 for best this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Waco. About 80% of students finish within six years. Baylor University awarded about 16 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $49,888 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,928 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in best from Baylor University

7

Texas Tech University placed #7 among the best best schools. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Texas Tech University graduates 69% of students within six years. Texas Tech University awarded about 107 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $50,332. Students borrow a median of $24,271 to complete this degree. See the full best program report for Texas Tech University

8

University Of North Texas placed #8 among the best best schools. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. University Of North Texas graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 376 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Texas in the most recent data year. Best graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $49,157 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,817. Get the full best details for University Of North Texas

9

University Of Houston Downtown came in at #9 for best this year. This large public university is located in the city of Houston. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston Downtown in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Houston Downtown earn around $46,298 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,925 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in best from University Of Houston Downtown

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 14 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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