Best small colleges in Texas
Colleges with fewer than 2,000 undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.
Best small colleges in Texas31 schools
31 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.
- Fewer than 2,000 undergraduate students (federal enrollment).
- 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.
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- 2Tie
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Southwestern University
Georgetown, TX · Private nonprofit#11 in Texas
- 1,457 undergraduates
- 73% graduate
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Southwest University at El Paso
El Paso, TX · Private for-profit#24 in Texas
- 1,817 undergraduates
- 59% graduate
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Lubbock Christian University
Lubbock, TX · Private nonprofit#34 in Texas
- 1,320 undergraduates
- 51% graduate
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East Texas Baptist University
Marshall, TX · Private nonprofit#42 in Texas
- 1,659 undergraduates
- 47% graduate
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Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX · Private nonprofit#44 in Texas
- 1,147 undergraduates
- 46% graduate
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Southwestern Adventist University
Keene, TX · Private nonprofit#47 in Texas
- 813 undergraduates
- 52% graduate
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Hardin-Simmons University
Abilene, TX · Private nonprofit#53 in Texas
- 1,283 undergraduates
- 46% graduate
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Paul Quinn College
Dallas, TX · Private nonprofitTop 24% for low net price
- 600 undergraduates
- 27% graduate
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Texas Wesleyan University
Fort Worth, TX · Private nonprofit#63 in Texas
- 1,910 undergraduates
- 32% graduate
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Jarvis Christian University
Hawkins, TX · Private nonprofitTop 15% for low net price
- 730 undergraduates
- 15% graduate
- 25
Concordia University Texas
Austin, TX · Private nonprofit#76 in Texas
- 1,391 undergraduates
- 45% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Technical College | $28,004 | $17,277 | $36,156 | 72% |
| Parker University | $29,135 | $12,288 | $42,091 | 74% |
| Southwestern University | $29,224 | $25,000 | $56,878 | 73% |
| University of Dallas | $22,610 | $23,117 | $58,285 | 73% |
| Austin College | $21,107 | $24,500 | $61,296 | 67% |
| Wade College | $20,778 | $22,938 | $36,657 | 54% |
| Hallmark University | $12,513 | $25,438 | $40,183 | 66% |
| Southwest University at El Paso | $16,906 | $20,000 | $29,648 | 59% |
| Criswell College | $21,630 | $25,346 | $43,185 | 50% |
| Lubbock Christian University | $24,456 | $20,948 | $53,787 | 51% |
| East Texas Baptist University | $23,911 | $23,250 | $52,788 | 47% |
| Dallas Christian College | $22,960 | $24,912 | $43,503 | 29% |
| Our Lady of the Lake University | $16,442 | $24,999 | $48,675 | 46% |
| Southwestern Adventist University | $22,778 | $26,998 | $52,946 | 52% |
| Texas Lutheran University | $24,654 | $25,000 | $53,863 | 54% |
| Hardin-Simmons University | $19,555 | $24,711 | $54,771 | 46% |
| Texas A&M University-Texarkana | $12,997 | $18,953 | $45,515 | 30% |
| Paul Quinn College | $12,709 | $23,373 | $29,288 | 27% |
| Huston-Tillotson University | $19,719 | $30,750 | $42,937 | 34% |
| Texas Wesleyan University | $24,066 | $23,125 | $54,053 | 32% |
| Sul Ross State University | $13,286 | $15,900 | $41,871 | 30% |
| Schreiner University | $21,507 | $23,250 | $52,228 | 43% |
| Nelson University | $21,662 | $24,725 | $46,238 | 42% |
| Jarvis Christian University | $9,825 | $27,000 | $32,992 | 15% |
| Concordia University Texas | $23,131 | $21,852 | $60,883 | 45% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 10
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 13
- California 63
- Colorado 5
- Connecticut 10
- Florida 27
- Georgia 24
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 25
- Indiana 20
- Iowa 23
- Kansas 18
- Kentucky 18
- Louisiana 8
- Maine 11
- Maryland 13
- Massachusetts 31
- Michigan 23
- Minnesota 19
- Mississippi 8
- Missouri 31
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 12
- New Hampshire 7
- New Jersey 18
- New Mexico 7
- New York 55
- North Carolina 34
- North Dakota 4
- Ohio 58
- Oklahoma 11
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 69
- Puerto Rico 31
- South Carolina 19
- South Dakota 5
- Tennessee 24
- Utah 7
- Vermont 4
- Virginia 30
- Washington 12
- West Virginia 12
- Wisconsin 15