College Compass GuideTrue north for every college search.

Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in Texas

Colleges that compete in NCAA Division I athletics, ranked by Compass Score.

Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in Texas26 schools

26 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.

How this list is made

  • Schools in Texas.
  • Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
  • Competes in NCAA Division I (the school's athletics association, from federal and association data).
  • Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
  • Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.

  1. 1

    Rice University

    Houston, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll

    #1 in Texas

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 95% graduate
  2. 2

    The University of Texas at Austin

    Austin, TX · PublicHonor Roll

    #2 in Texas

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 89% graduate
  3. 3

    Southern Methodist University

    Dallas, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll

    #4 in Texas

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 84% graduate
  4. 4

    Texas Christian University

    Fort Worth, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll

    #5 in Texas

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 86% graduate
  5. 5

    Texas A&M University-College Station

    College Station, TX · PublicHonor Roll

    #6 in Texas

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 84% graduate
  6. 6

    Baylor University

    Waco, TX · Private nonprofit

    #7 in Texas

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 80% graduate
  7. 7

    University of Houston

    Houston, TX · Public

    #16 in Texas

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 65% graduate
  8. 8

    Texas Tech University

    Lubbock, TX · Public

    #18 in Texas

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 69% graduate
  9. 9

    Abilene Christian University

    Abilene, TX · Private nonprofit

    #20 in Texas

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 59% graduate
  10. 10

    University of North Texas

    Denton, TX · Public

    #23 in Texas

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 61% graduate
  11. 11

    Texas State University

    San Marcos, TX · Public

    #28 in Texas

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 55% graduate
  12. 12

    The University of Texas at Arlington

    Arlington, TX · Public

    Top 23% for earnings

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 54% graduate
  13. 13

    The University of Texas at San Antonio

    San Antonio, TX · Public

    Top 17% for low net price

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 53% graduate
  14. 14

    The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

    Edinburg, TX · Public

    Top 4% for low net price

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 51% graduate
  15. 15

    Dallas Baptist University

    Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit

    #36 in Texas

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 57% graduate
  16. 16

    Sam Houston State University

    Huntsville, TX · Public

    #39 in Texas

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 55% graduate
  17. 17

    Stephen F Austin State University

    Nacogdoches, TX · Public

    #41 in Texas

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 53% graduate
  18. 18

    The University of Texas at El Paso

    El Paso, TX · Public

    Top 14% for low net price

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 50% graduate
  19. 19

    Houston Christian University

    Houston, TX · Private nonprofit

    #48 in Texas

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 49% graduate
  20. 20

    Tarleton State University

    Stephenville, TX · Public

    #49 in Texas

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 48% graduate
  21. 21

    University of the Incarnate Word

    San Antonio, TX · Private nonprofit

    #50 in Texas

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 51% graduate
  22. 22

    East Texas A&M University

    Commerce, TX · Public

    Top 21% for low net price

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 43% graduate
  23. 23

    Prairie View A & M University

    Prairie View, TX · Public

    #67 in Texas

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 43% graduate
  24. 24

    Lamar University

    Beaumont, TX · Public

    Top 14% for low net price

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 37% graduate
  25. 25

    Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi

    Corpus Christi, TX · Public

    #74 in Texas

    • NCAA Division I athletics
    • 40% graduate

Compare cost and outcomes

SchoolNet price a yearMedian debtEarnings 10 years outGraduation rate
Rice University$13,370$11,000$89,71895%
The University of Texas at Austin$19,857$20,500$75,12189%
Southern Methodist University$40,892$19,500$78,35484%
Texas Christian University$36,660$21,500$68,42486%
Texas A&M University-College Station$21,315$17,804$72,09784%
Baylor University$41,104$23,000$65,79380%
University of Houston$14,276$18,194$62,37765%
Texas Tech University$19,070$21,500$62,45469%
Abilene Christian University$26,182$24,250$55,73659%
University of North Texas$15,649$19,250$57,01061%
Texas State University$16,805$21,000$56,90655%
The University of Texas at Arlington$13,951$17,527$63,19954%
The University of Texas at San Antonio$10,836$20,500$57,13153%
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley$4,831$12,950$49,62051%
Dallas Baptist University$28,516$21,591$56,80757%
Sam Houston State University$16,404$21,983$54,21155%
Stephen F Austin State University$14,260$23,409$49,63453%
The University of Texas at El Paso$9,403$18,000$50,92350%
Houston Christian University$20,629$22,642$55,93349%
Tarleton State University$20,783$19,606$53,04048%
University of the Incarnate Word$22,775$27,000$56,73351%
East Texas A&M University$11,841$20,500$50,29643%
Prairie View A & M University$13,570$27,000$45,41143%
Lamar University$9,366$21,250$49,65237%
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi$15,225$23,000$51,86540%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.

This list in other states

The national list → · All top school lists →

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