Most selective colleges in Texas
Colleges that admit the smallest share of applicants.
Most selective colleges in Texas17 schools
17 schools qualify, ranked by admission rate.
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 an admission rate from federal data (College Scorecard). Average SAT scores are shown where the college reports them.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by admission rate, lowest first. Selectivity measures demand for places, not the quality of teaching.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
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Trinity University
San Antonio, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#3 in Texas
- Admits 26%
- Average SAT 1416
- 3
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- 5
- 6
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#5 in Texas
- Admits 44%
- Average SAT 1298
- 7
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Texas A&M University-College Station
College Station, TX · PublicHonor Roll#6 in Texas
- Admits 57%
- Average SAT 1280
- 11
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#4 in Texas
- Admits 63%
- Average SAT 1428
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University of St. Thomas
Houston, TX · Private nonprofitTop 22% for graduation
- Admits 90%
- Average SAT 1090
- 17
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% |
| Trinity University | $23,464 | $22,954 | $71,668 | 84% |
| The University of Texas at Austin | $19,857 | $20,500 | $75,121 | 89% |
| LeTourneau University | $28,185 | $26,000 | $57,103 | 59% |
| Southwestern University | $29,224 | $25,000 | $56,878 | 73% |
| Texas Christian University | $36,660 | $21,500 | $68,424 | 86% |
| Austin College | $21,107 | $24,500 | $61,296 | 67% |
| Baylor University | $41,104 | $23,000 | $65,793 | 80% |
| University of Dallas | $22,610 | $23,117 | $58,285 | 73% |
| Texas A&M University-College Station | $21,315 | $17,804 | $72,097 | 84% |
| Southern Methodist University | $40,892 | $19,500 | $78,354 | 84% |
| The University of Texas at Dallas | $18,267 | $18,000 | $68,227 | 76% |
| Abilene Christian University | $26,182 | $24,250 | $55,736 | 59% |
| Texas Tech University | $19,070 | $21,500 | $62,454 | 69% |
| Saint Edward's University | $25,578 | $24,803 | $58,826 | 63% |
| University of St. Thomas | $19,359 | $19,928 | $59,224 | 69% |
| Criswell College | $21,630 | $25,346 | $43,185 | 50% |
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 57
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 20
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 79
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 22
- Washington 12
- Wisconsin 15