Colleges with the lowest student debt in Texas
Colleges whose graduates leave with the least federal student debt.
Colleges with the lowest student debt in Texas20 schools
20 schools qualify, ranked by median debt.
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 the median federal loan debt of graduates from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by median debt, lowest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
- 2
- 3
Texas A&M University-College Station
College Station, TX · PublicHonor Roll#6 in Texas
- Median debt $17,804
- 84% graduate
- 4
- 5
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#4 in Texas
- Median debt $19,500
- 84% graduate
- 6
University of St. Thomas
Houston, TX · Private nonprofitTop 22% for graduation
- Median debt $19,928
- 69% graduate
- 7
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX · PublicHonor Roll#2 in Texas
- Median debt $20,500
- 89% graduate
- 8Tie
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#5 in Texas
- Median debt $21,500
- 86% graduate
- 8Tie
- 10
- 11
Trinity University
San Antonio, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in Texas
- Median debt $22,954
- 84% graduate
- 12
- 13
- 14
Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio
San Antonio, TX · Private for-profitTop 10% for graduation
- Median debt $24,166
- 81% graduate
- 15
Abilene Christian University
Abilene, TX · Private nonprofit#20 in Texas
- Median debt $24,250
- 59% graduate
- 16
- 17
- 18
Southwestern University
Georgetown, TX · Private nonprofit#11 in Texas
- Median debt $25,000
- 73% graduate
- 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% |
| Parker University | $29,135 | $12,288 | $42,091 | 74% |
| Texas A&M University-College Station | $21,315 | $17,804 | $72,097 | 84% |
| The University of Texas at Dallas | $18,267 | $18,000 | $68,227 | 76% |
| Southern Methodist University | $40,892 | $19,500 | $78,354 | 84% |
| University of St. Thomas | $19,359 | $19,928 | $59,224 | 69% |
| The University of Texas at Austin | $19,857 | $20,500 | $75,121 | 89% |
| Texas Christian University | $36,660 | $21,500 | $68,424 | 86% |
| Texas Tech University | $19,070 | $21,500 | $62,454 | 69% |
| Wade College | $20,778 | $22,938 | $36,657 | 54% |
| Trinity University | $23,464 | $22,954 | $71,668 | 84% |
| Baylor University | $41,104 | $23,000 | $65,793 | 80% |
| University of Dallas | $22,610 | $23,117 | $58,285 | 73% |
| Galen College of Nursing-San Antonio | $29,104 | $24,166 | $61,480 | 81% |
| Abilene Christian University | $26,182 | $24,250 | $55,736 | 59% |
| Austin College | $21,107 | $24,500 | $61,296 | 67% |
| Saint Edward's University | $25,578 | $24,803 | $58,826 | 63% |
| Southwestern University | $29,224 | $25,000 | $56,878 | 73% |
| Criswell College | $21,630 | $25,346 | $43,185 | 50% |
| LeTourneau University | $28,185 | $26,000 | $57,103 | 59% |
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 61
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 15
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 16
- New York 75
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 21
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15