Best Online Colleges in Texas of 2024

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Texas is one of the largest states in the US. It’s known for many things, including ranching and oil production. However, Texas' economy is comprised of much more. Not only is it the 10th largest economy in the world, it is also the United States' top exporter. Interestingly, Texas also ranks #2 for manufacturing in the nation. Unsurprisingly, manufacturing is the state's top industry, with professional & business services, real estate, mining & oil extraction, and wholesale trade rounding out the top five industries in the Lone Star State.

Where employment is concerned, trade, transportation, and utilities provide more Texans with work than any other sector. Professional and business services is close behind, with education and government in the #3 position. The state also employs many in leisure and hospitality, finance, and manufacturing. These sectors, and the state in general, all seem to be quite strong, with positive growth posted to the Bureau of Labor Statistics for much of 2021 and 2022 and overall non-farm employment gaining 5.9% in March '22.

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Online Higher Education in Texas

Texas is a big state with large major universities but also smaller public and private colleges for those who need a more intimate campus environment. In fact, the state educates 1.6 million students, including both graduate and undergraduate enrollment. Of those, the division between full-time and part-time students is nearly even. When online and distance learners are tallied, around 47% attend college courses exclusively via online media. Texas then only has 27% taking a few online courses as part of their post-secondary Texas education. Even fewer students take no online or distance courses at all.

Texas' online students have a lot of schools to choose from. The state supports 116 total institutions that offer online-only degree programs, with 66 of those offering publicly subsidized tuition and the remaining 50 established as private schools. There are also 41 community colleges that offer online-only degree programs.

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The popularity of online education may be attributed to the sheer size of Texas. Many students live in remote areas that make commuting or moving to a campus a logistical struggle. The online option could bring a University of Houston education to students in far-west Sierra Blanca, for instance. Online degree options can also run the gamut from humanities courses and STEM degrees to a career-focused curriculum which may appeal more to busy online students.

When it comes to the cost of education, Texas' public colleges and universities generally offer the best value in higher education. Since the average undergraduate tuition costs around $5,000 for a public institution and room and board costs exceed $16,000, Texas undergraduates can potentially reduce their overall costs by living in their hometown or areas that have lower cost of living. Students who prefer a private institution pay an average tuition of around $23,000. The most expensive private undergraduate degree in Texas is from the Gemini School of Visual Arts & Communication who charges over $80,000 while the Bakke Graduate University charges a mere $533.

Our School Rankings Methodology

Our educational researchers work hard to deliver the best, most accurate, and dependable rankings of Texas' online colleges and universities possible. To that end, they use solid data that institutions report to the government. Statistics, such as the retention rate, graduation rate, salary outcomes for graduates, and the student-to-faculty ratio lead their analysis.

First, researchers determine which schools offer online degrees, and then they start looking at the retention rates. This figure reflects how many first-time, full-time students return to campus for a second year. A high percentage returning indicates that the school has a lot to offer students in terms of curriculum, faculty attention, campus resources, and more. A high retention rate can also correlate with a high graduation rate. The graduation rate is also augmented by the transfer rate. Since transfer students tend to move on to other programs for their eventual degree, researchers assume that the students are well-prepared for the move.

Essentially, our research team seeks to offer students a basis for comparison. Students and their families can use our data and rankings as a counterweight to their personal, subjective desires. Ultimately, we feel that our rankings will help all students find the best program for them.