2026 Best Value Value Schools in Texas
[Value](/majors/protective-security-safety-services/security-science-and-technology/forensic-science-and-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for value students.
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2026 Best Value Value Schools in Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
The University Of Texas At El Paso tops our 2026 list of the best value value schools in Texas. Set in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Students borrow a median of $25,432 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of $23,495 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,432 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%.
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the best values for value. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Typical student debt for value graduates is $21,275. Early-career value graduates make about $57,819. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Texas Tech University earned it the #3 place for value. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Students borrow a median of $24,271 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $50,332 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $38,792 early in their careers. Set against $20,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
St Marys University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Set in the city of San Antonio, St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,434. Value graduates carry a median of $25,040 in student loans. Value graduates of St Marys University earn a median of $42,786 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
