Colleges where the most freshmen return in Texas
Colleges ranked by first-year retention: the share of full-time freshmen who come back for a second year.
Colleges where the most freshmen return in Texas20 schools
20 schools qualify, ranked by first-year retention.
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).
- Has a first-year retention rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by retention rate, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1Tie
- 1Tie
- 3
Rice University
Houston, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Texas
- 97% of freshmen return
- 95% graduate
- 4
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX · PublicHonor Roll#2 in Texas
- 97% of freshmen return
- 89% graduate
- 5
Texas A&M University-College Station
College Station, TX · PublicHonor Roll#6 in Texas
- 94% of freshmen return
- 84% graduate
- 6Tie
Trinity University
San Antonio, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in Texas
- 93% of freshmen return
- 84% graduate
- 6Tie
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#5 in Texas
- 93% of freshmen return
- 86% graduate
- 8
- 9
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#4 in Texas
- 91% of freshmen return
- 84% graduate
- 10
The University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, TX · Public#8 in Texas
- 90% of freshmen return
- 76% graduate
- 11
- 12
- 13
Southwestern University
Georgetown, TX · Private nonprofit#11 in Texas
- 81% of freshmen return
- 73% graduate
- 14
Abilene Christian University
Abilene, TX · Private nonprofit#20 in Texas
- 81% of freshmen return
- 59% graduate
- 15
Saint Edward's University
Austin, TX · Private nonprofit#22 in Texas
- 80% of freshmen return
- 63% graduate
- 16
- 17
University of St. Thomas
Houston, TX · Private nonprofitTop 22% for graduation
- 78% of freshmen return
- 69% graduate
- 18
- 19
Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio
San Antonio, TX · Private for-profitTop 10% for graduation
- 61% of freshmen return
- 81% graduate
- 20
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wade College | $20,778 | $22,938 | $36,657 | 54% |
| Criswell College | $21,630 | $25,346 | $43,185 | 50% |
| Rice University | $13,370 | $11,000 | $89,718 | 95% |
| 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% |
| Trinity University | $23,464 | $22,954 | $71,668 | 84% |
| Texas Christian University | $36,660 | $21,500 | $68,424 | 86% |
| Baylor University | $41,104 | $23,000 | $65,793 | 80% |
| Southern Methodist University | $40,892 | $19,500 | $78,354 | 84% |
| The University of Texas at Dallas | $18,267 | $18,000 | $68,227 | 76% |
| Texas Tech University | $19,070 | $21,500 | $62,454 | 69% |
| LeTourneau University | $28,185 | $26,000 | $57,103 | 59% |
| Southwestern University | $29,224 | $25,000 | $56,878 | 73% |
| Abilene Christian University | $26,182 | $24,250 | $55,736 | 59% |
| Saint Edward's University | $25,578 | $24,803 | $58,826 | 63% |
| Austin College | $21,107 | $24,500 | $61,296 | 67% |
| University of St. Thomas | $19,359 | $19,928 | $59,224 | 69% |
| University of Dallas | $22,610 | $23,117 | $58,285 | 73% |
| Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio | $29,104 | $24,166 | $61,480 | 81% |
| Parker University | $29,135 | $12,288 | $42,091 | 74% |
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 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 63
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 8
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 80
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 31
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 62
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15