Best value colleges in the South in Texas
Colleges in the South with an Academic Excellence grade of B+ or better, ranked by Value: net price after aid, earnings and debt.
Best value colleges in the South in Texas20 schools
20 schools qualify, ranked by Value.
How this list is made
- Schools in Texas.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- In the South (U.S. Census Bureau region).
- Has a Value score from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Value, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Rice University
Houston, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Texas
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- Net price $13,370 a year
- 2
The University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, TX · Public#8 in Texas
- Value grade A · Top 10%
- Net price $18,267 a year
- 3
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX · PublicHonor Roll#2 in Texas
- Value grade A- · Top 12%
- Net price $19,857 a year
- 4
Texas A&M University-College Station
College Station, TX · PublicHonor Roll#6 in Texas
- Value grade A- · Top 14%
- Net price $21,315 a year
- 5
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX · Public#18 in Texas
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- Net price $19,070 a year
- 6
University of St. Thomas
Houston, TX · Private nonprofitTop 22% for graduation
- Value grade B+ · Top 29%
- Net price $19,359 a year
- 7
Trinity University
San Antonio, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in Texas
- Value grade B+ · Top 32%
- Net price $23,464 a year
- 8
Austin College
Sherman, TX · Private nonprofit#14 in Texas
- Value grade B · Top 43%
- Net price $21,107 a year
- 9
University of Dallas
Irving, TX · Private nonprofit#13 in Texas
- Value grade B · Top 50%
- Net price $22,610 a year
- 10
Saint Edward's University
Austin, TX · Private nonprofit#22 in Texas
- Value grade B-
- Net price $25,578 a year
- 11Tie
Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio
San Antonio, TX · Private for-profitTop 10% for graduation
- Value grade B-
- Net price $29,104 a year
- 11Tie
Abilene Christian University
Abilene, TX · Private nonprofit#20 in Texas
- Value grade B-
- Net price $26,182 a year
- 13
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#4 in Texas
- Value grade C+
- Net price $40,892 a year
- 14
- 15
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#5 in Texas
- Value grade C+
- Net price $36,660 a year
- 16
LeTourneau University
Longview, TX · Private nonprofit#17 in Texas
- Value grade C+
- Net price $28,185 a year
- 17
Southwestern University
Georgetown, TX · Private nonprofit#11 in Texas
- Value grade C+
- Net price $29,224 a year
- 18
- 19
- 20
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice University | $13,370 | $11,000 | $89,718 | 95% |
| The University of Texas at Dallas | $18,267 | $18,000 | $68,227 | 76% |
| The University of Texas at Austin | $19,857 | $20,500 | $75,121 | 89% |
| Texas A&M University-College Station | $21,315 | $17,804 | $72,097 | 84% |
| Texas Tech University | $19,070 | $21,500 | $62,454 | 69% |
| University of St. Thomas | $19,359 | $19,928 | $59,224 | 69% |
| Trinity University | $23,464 | $22,954 | $71,668 | 84% |
| Austin College | $21,107 | $24,500 | $61,296 | 67% |
| University of Dallas | $22,610 | $23,117 | $58,285 | 73% |
| Saint Edward's University | $25,578 | $24,803 | $58,826 | 63% |
| Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio | $29,104 | $24,166 | $61,480 | 81% |
| Abilene Christian University | $26,182 | $24,250 | $55,736 | 59% |
| Southern Methodist University | $40,892 | $19,500 | $78,354 | 84% |
| Parker University | $29,135 | $12,288 | $42,091 | 74% |
| Texas Christian University | $36,660 | $21,500 | $68,424 | 86% |
| LeTourneau University | $28,185 | $26,000 | $57,103 | 59% |
| Southwestern University | $29,224 | $25,000 | $56,878 | 73% |
| Criswell College | $21,630 | $25,346 | $43,185 | 50% |
| Wade College | $20,778 | $22,938 | $36,657 | 54% |
| Baylor University | $41,104 | $23,000 | $65,793 | 80% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.