Best Colleges in Texas for Associate, Bachelor’s & Master’s

Texas College Guide – What You Need to Know

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Texas is one of our largest and most diversified states. From dusty border towns to the lush hill country, the state has a rich geographical profile that is likewise matched by its outstanding educational diversity. From the sprawling, esteemed institutions in Austin, Houston, and Dallas, to the fantastic colleges and universities that fill the rest of the state, there is a school that waits for you to unlock your abundant potential. No matter what subject you wish to study, or career you wish to pursue, Texas has a college or university that suits your needs.

Without ever leaving Texas, you can attend some of the nation's best schools for business, health sciences, law, and loads more. The state even excels in the arts. While known primarily for its impact on the oil and gas industry, Houston is home to a rich art community and the university culture in Austin birthed one of the nation's best filmmakers, Richard Linklater. These days, you'll find that Texas' windy plains are pushing the state to become a leader in alternative energy. Perhaps one day wind turbines will replace oil derricks. If you look around, you'll see that Texas is big enough for any dream you have.

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What are the most popular bachelor's degrees offered in Texas?

Texas has a vigorous economy that includes the Oil and Gas industry, Alternative Energy, Healthcare, and Agribusiness, to name a few top fields. Therefore, Texas' most popular bachelor's degrees reflect its forward-thinking citizens. While Texas' most popular majors don't vary that much from the rest of the nation, you will find a wide variety of academic approaches in each field. There's nothing typical in Texas. Furthermore, no matter which degree you choose, you will find ample job opportunities such that you can pursue your career your way. Here are Texas' top bachelor's degrees. Take a look and consider how you might approach each one:

Education Level & National Average Median Compensation

NO FORMAL EDUCATION HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA ASSOCIATE DEGREE BACHELOR’S DEGREE MASTER’S DEGREE DOCTORAL DEGREE
$30,784* $38,792* $46,124* $64,896* $77,844* $96,772*
*National Average Earnings by Degree Level
arizona-National-Average-earning-by-educational-attainment
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Most Popular Degrees and Careers in Texas

Texas' economy continues to grow and innovate. The legislature continues to make the state great for business and its citizens are unceasing in their pursuit of the new skills and knowledge that industry needs to stay competitive. For instance, Texas once was a virtual birthplace for the revolutionary oil industry, and now it is leading in wind and other alternative sources of fuel. In fact, in Q4 2018, Forbes Magazine ranked Texas #3 for business and #1 for growth prospects. Thus, it's an exciting time to be a Texan, especially if you are headed to college.

Top Business Administration Careers and Management

CAREER NAME NUMBER OF JOBS AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY
Market Research Analysts 35,030 $74,190
Financial Analysts 26,850 $94,980
Accounting 114,410 $79,360
Operations Managers 217,080 $121,270
Logistician 15,710 $84,370
  • Market Research Analysts:
    This is a great occupation for you if you love crunching the numbers. In today's Big Data world, there are so many ways to narrow down your market and target consumers. Whether you work for a market consulting group or if you're an in-house market analyst, this is a great job to exercise your quantitative skills you learned in college.
  • Financial Analysts:
    Many budding financiers start out in these positions. If you are able to land a two-year analyst position for an Investment Bank, you will probably never work harder in your life. However, your experience and skill will launch a career that can take you straight to the top, either on Wall Street or leading a large corporation.
  • Accountants:
    This is a broad field that allows many different avenues. You could become a tax accountant and prepare filings for individuals or corporations. On the other hand, you could earn a certification in forensic accounting and work with lawyers or law enforcement to catch white-collar criminals.
  • Operations Managers:
    This is another broad field that involves a broad vision of an organization. As an Operations Manager, you'll oversee every department in your organization. This might be an occupation to grow into, but your Texas business bachelor's degree will set you up for success.
  • Logistician:
    If you wish to be a Logistician, you will probably study Supply Chain Management to discover more about the field. Since the economy is more global every day, your position as a supply-chain expert will be invaluable to your Texas employer.

Best Texas Schools for Business Administration

  • University of Texas – Austin
  • Sam Houston State University
  • Trinity University
  • Baylor University
  • Texas Tech University
  • University of Houston

Top Criminal Justice Careers and Salaries

CAREER NAME NUMBER OF JOBS AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY
Detective / Investigator 16,810 $79,490
Fish and Game Warden 460 $66,210
Security Specialist 88,100 $34,900
Corrections Officer 47,160 $42,470
Forensic Science Technician 1,480 $60,040
  • Detective:
    With a Texas bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, you'll have little trouble finding work as a detective. Though the working conditions might be quite gritty at times, you'll find great satisfaction bringing bad guys to justice and helping communities find justice and healing through the law.
  • Fish and Game Warden:
    Believe it or not, there are people out there whose criminal activities can decimate fish and wildlife populations, thus endangering the total ecosystem. With so many diverse ecosystems in Texas, you can land a job in the land you love.
  • Security Specialist:
    After you complete your Texas bachelor's degree, you can start a career in security. You might start out as a guard, but your degree will help you rapidly advance. Since this field can include providing help to an office complex to providing services for famous or wealthy people who have special needs, you are sure to find a niche that is both exciting and fulfilling.
  • Corrections Officer:
    The corrections field is always in need of sharp, degreed workers. The working environments range from the inside of a state or federal prison, to adolescent detention facilities, to office work as a probation or parole officer. While detectives and police work to bring criminals into the system, you can help these people rehabilitate and, hopefully, get out of the system and lead lawful lives.

Best Texas Schools for Criminal Justice

  • Rice University
  • Baylor University
  • University of Texas – Austin
  • Sam Houston State University

Top Health Sciences Careers and Registered Nursing

CAREER NAME NUMBER OF JOBS AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY
Registered Nursing 218,090 $74,540
Occupational Therapist 9,180 $85,090
Physical Therapist 15,400 $89,630
Nurse Practitioner 13,620 $115,440
Psychiatric Technicians 4,150 $32,510
  • Registered Nurses:
    Often considered the backbone of any Healthcare system, hospital patients probably spend more time with RNs than their attending physician. Keep in mind that RNs aren't only on staff to take your blood pressure and temperature, RNs specialize in a wide range of fields including psychiatry, addictions/detox, gerontology, and hospice care, to name a tiny fraction of the possibilities.
  • Occupational Therapists:
    OTs are a diversified group. Some work with the elderly to help them cope with dementia, while others might work on an adolescent psychiatric ward. You can even work as an independent contractor for those receiving in-home care or meet high-functioning clients in the community.
  • Physical Therapist:
    When people have a hard time physically moving, they work with a PT. You'll need a doctoral degree to claim the official title, but those with a bachelor's degree can work as PT assistants and learn the field from a master. Your clients can include patients recovering from car accidents, amputations, or stroke, to name a few.
  • Nurse Practitioners:
    If you want to run a clinic without going through medical school, this is the perfect career. NPs can perform most of the functions of a doctor, but don't have the burden of an MD degree or license. Rather, you'll work under an MD's licensure, as they’ll sign off on your procedures, prescriptions, etc.
  • Psychiatric Technicians:
    If you’re passionate about helping those who are severely troubled, this may be a good position for you. You will monitor patients in a psychiatric facility, which may mean walking from room to room checking on them or even monitoring them through video feeds to make sure they don’t hurt themselves or others.
  • Healthcare Administrators:
    Healthcare administrators help with strategic planning, preparing budgets, risk management, and marketing to keep the facilities operations running smoothly. There are many skills that are necessary to become a successful healthcare administrator.

Best Texas Schools for Health Sciences

  • Rice University
  • Trinity University
  • Texas A&M
  • University of Texas – Austin

Top Marketing Careers and Salaries

CAREER NAME NUMBER OF JOBS AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY
Marketing Management 16,290 $149,420
Graphic Designer 14,050 $52,050
Art Director 2,510 $82,140
Advertising Sales 7,830 $59,280
Public Relations Specialist 26,110 $60,600
  • Marketing Management:
    After a few years working as a Marketing Analysts, you will likely be groomed for management. In this position, you will oversee your analysts and perhaps work with other sides of the marketing team. For instance, you could take your team's data and help create whole creative campaigns.
  • Graphic Designer:
    Graphic design is part of every document you ever see. It's especially evident in marketing materials. You will need to have a great eye for design as well as top skills in software packages such as the Adobe suite of creative applications.
  • Art Director:
    Art directors work with copywriters to generate the creative ideas and themes that drive an ad campaign. For instance, they might take the data from the market analysts and interpret it through their creative lens to generate a campaign that appeals to certain important demographics.
  • Advertising Sales:
    Every publication needs to sell advertising to keep the ship afloat. Some publications have in-house creatives so you may act as a liaison between the client and the creative team. To find your dream job, look for employment in television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and online companies.
  • Public Relations Specialist:
    In this occupation, you will work to maintain your client's reputation. This position is very similar to advertising, but it involves media stories, staging various events, etc. Public Relations Specialists are often trained in journalism prior to entering the field.

Best Texas Schools for Marketing

  • University of Texas – Austin
  • Rice University
  • Sam Houston State
  • Trinity University
  • Baylor University

Top Psychology Careers and Salaries

CAREER NAME NUMBER OF JOBS AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY
School Psychologist 8,430 $73,920
Clinical Social Worker 10,250 $58,430
Social Worker 2,530 $60,240
Psychological Research Assistant 1,510 $37,330
Psychology Teacher, Post-Secondary 2,870 $67,690
  • School Psychologist:
    Even children need a little help from time to time and a School Psychologist can help a youngster overcome difficulties with school, home, or her peers. You might make a lasting impact on a child's life, helping them to find their best lives.
  • Clinical Social Worker:
    Social Workers do a lot more than help families find services. When you are finally licensed to perform psycho-therapeutic services with individual clients, you will discover a career path beyond your wildest dreams.
  • Social Worker:
    This is a far more diversified field than is often thought. Social Workers can work in hospice, hospitals, for a wide range of governmental agencies, and non-profit organizations. You can even get a special credential to perform psychotherapy with individual clients. Since most Social Workers intend to work with the government or non-profit organizations, you can participate in loan deferral programs that will evaporate your student loan debt in approximately ten years or so.
  • Psychological Research Assistant:
    You'll work under a PhD to help them research various psychological phenomena. For this field you will certainly want to be strong in statistics and it will help if you loved your Research Methods class in undergraduate school. Who knows? You just might unlock the key to human consciousness.
  • Psychology Professor:
    You'll need at least a master's degree for this position, but it all starts in undergrad. In fact, you will probably want to complete a Doctoral degree so that you can land tenure with your University. The best part of this job is that you can continue your research while involving students in its fundamental questions.

Best Texas Schools for Psychology

  • University of Texas – Austin
  • Trinity University
  • Baylor University
Want to See All the Texas Occupational Wage Averages

The top occupations with the highest forecasted growth rate in Texas

According to the Houston Chronicle, the fastest growing Texas occupations, and their growth rates through 2026, are:

  • Wind Turbine Technician – 109%
  • Forest Fire Inspectors – 60%
  • Genetic Counselors – 50%
  • Physician's Assistant – 45%
  • Statisticians – 44%
  • Nurse Practitioners – 44%
  • Home Health Aides – 43%
  • Personal Care Aides – 38%
  • Physical Therapist Assistants – 37%
  • Operations Research Analysts – 36%

Best Associate Degrees in Texas

Best Associate Degrees in Texas
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Texas college students can take advantage of their community college system and complete some of the best associate degrees in the nation. In fact, this option makes terrific sense financially, as community college credits are typically cheaper than most any other type of school. Associate programs in Texas also provide students with smaller class sizes and instructors who are as capable as any in the state's top universities.

Lee College
College Type
2-year, Public		 Campus Housing
No		 Student Population
7,487		 Graduation Rate
48%		 Net Price
$6,133 		Grads Salary
$37,600
Western Texas College
College Type
2-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
1,442		 Graduation Rate
51%		 Net Price
$6,914 		Grads Salary
$39,900
Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie
College Type
2-year, Private for-profit		 Campus Housing
No		 Student Population
1,455		 Graduation Rate
69%		 Net Price
$23,256 		Grads Salary
$42,700
Hallmark University
College Type
4-year, primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit		 Campus Housing
No		 Student Population
923		 Graduation Rate
55%		 Net Price
$9,887 		Grads Salary
$32,600
Lamar Institute of Technology
College Type
2-year, Public		 Campus Housing
No		 Student Population
4,015		 Graduation Rate
32%		 Net Price
$4,993 		Grads Salary
$43,400
Midland College
College Type
4-year, primarily associate's, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
5,115		 Graduation Rate
23%		 Net Price
$7,420 		Grads Salary
$42,500
Wharton County Junior College
College Type
2-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
6,099		 Graduation Rate
18%		 Net Price
$4,371 		Grads Salary
$39,600
Northwest Vista College
College Type
2-year, Public		 Campus Housing
No		 Student Population
18,542		 Graduation Rate
30%		 Net Price
$6,369 		Grads Salary
$40,300
San Jacinto Community College
College Type
2-year, Public		 Campus Housing
No		 Student Population
32,452		 Graduation Rate
27%		 Net Price
$9,625 		Grads Salary
$41,400
Brazosport College
College Type
4-year, primarily associate's, Public		 Campus Housing
No		 Student Population
4,217		 Graduation Rate
28%		 Net Price
$6,254 		Grads Salary
$35,000
Full Ranking Report

Best Bachelor's Degrees in Texas

Best Bachelor's Degrees in Texas
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Texas' best bachelor's degrees are on par with those from any state in the US. In fact, the best colleges in Texas in some ways rival those from any other region, including the lauded, Ivy League institutions in New England. No matter if a student is interested in accounting, business, engineering, humanities, or a STEM degree, Texas has some of the best bachelor's programs. Keep reading to discover more about Texas' best four-year degree programs.

Rice University
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
7,643		 Graduation Rate
94%		 Net Price
$19,215 		Grads Salary
$85,400
The University of Texas at Austin
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
50,476		 Graduation Rate
88%		 Net Price
$16,892 		Grads Salary
$77,300
Texas A&M University-College Station
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
70,418		 Graduation Rate
83%		 Net Price
$19,906 		Grads Salary
$75,100
The University of Texas at Dallas
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
28,669		 Graduation Rate
69%		 Net Price
$11,185 		Grads Salary
$74,800
Southern Methodist University
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
12,373		 Graduation Rate
81%		 Net Price
$41,444 		Grads Salary
$81,300
University of Houston
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
46,148		 Graduation Rate
62%		 Net Price
$14,480 		Grads Salary
$70,400
University of St. Thomas-Houston
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
3,692		 Graduation Rate
66%		 Net Price
$19,940 		Grads Salary
$72,200
Texas Tech University
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
38,742		 Graduation Rate
63%		 Net Price
$15,452 		Grads Salary
$69,700
The University of Texas at Arlington
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
48,635		 Graduation Rate
52%		 Net Price
$15,220 		Grads Salary
$73,700
University of Houston-Clear Lake
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
9,053		 Graduation Rate
52%		 Net Price
$14,667 		Grads Salary
$73,100
Full Ranking Report

Best Master's Degrees in Texas

Best Master's Degrees in Texas
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Texas is home to some great master's and doctoral degrees. When a student completes their four-year degree in Texas, they can continue on in one of the state's top universities. The best master's degrees in Texas include fields such as engineering, math, accounting, English, and education, among others. Whether you’re looking for a master’s or a doctorate to round out your education, check out these options and find a program that works for you.

Rice University
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
7,643		 Graduation Rate
94%		 Net Price
$19,215 		Grads Salary
$85,400
The University of Texas at Austin
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
50,476		 Graduation Rate
88%		 Net Price
$16,892 		Grads Salary
$77,300
Texas A&M University-College Station
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
70,418		 Graduation Rate
83%		 Net Price
$19,906 		Grads Salary
$75,100
The University of Texas at Dallas
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
28,669		 Graduation Rate
69%		 Net Price
$11,185 		Grads Salary
$74,800
University of Houston
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
46,148		 Graduation Rate
62%		 Net Price
$14,480 		Grads Salary
$70,400
University of St. Thomas-Houston
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
3,692		 Graduation Rate
66%		 Net Price
$19,940 		Grads Salary
$72,200
Texas Tech University
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
38,742		 Graduation Rate
63%		 Net Price
$15,452 		Grads Salary
$69,700
Southern Methodist University
College Type
4-year, Private not-for-profit		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
12,373		 Graduation Rate
81%		 Net Price
$41,444 		Grads Salary
$81,300
The University of Texas at Arlington
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
48,635		 Graduation Rate
52%		 Net Price
$15,220 		Grads Salary
$73,700
University of Houston-Clear Lake
College Type
4-year, Public		 Campus Housing
Yes		 Student Population
9,053		 Graduation Rate
52%		 Net Price
$14,667 		Grads Salary
$73,100
Full Ranking Report
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