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Public colleges in Texas

Texas has 106 public institutions total, including 37 public universities, which are all part of six state school systems. The Texas state school systems include: University of Houston, University of North Texas, University of Texas, Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas Tech, plus a handful of other public schools.

Four of the state's public schools are considered Tier One Research Universities: The University of Texas at Austin, the Texas A&M University, the University of Houston and Texas Tech.

Private colleges in Texas

Texas is also home to 42 private, or independent, colleges. Rice University in Houston is a top research university. Other independent colleges include Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Trinity University in San Antonia and Baylor University in Waco.

Texas College Football Teams

There are 37 college football teams in Texas, including 12 D1 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams. There are four Texas college football teams in the Big 12 conference: University of Texas at Austin, Texas Christian University, Baylor University, Texas Tech. In the 2020 Big 12 conference, the Texas Longhorns from UT Austin came in 4th, the TCU Horned Frogs came in 5th, the Texas Tech Red Raiders came in 10th and the Baylor Bears came in 11th.

Is Texas a good place to go to college?

Pros of college in Texas

• Average cost of living for the U.S.
• Sports-loving culture
• Proximity to Mexico
• Many bustling cities
• Plentiful beaches, wildlife, and nature

Cons of college in Texas

• Extreme temperatures
• Frequent storms and tornados
• Sprawling urban areas

Texas geography and climate

Texas shares pieces of its border with New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mexico.  The state consists of seven regions: Big Bend, Hill Country, South Texas Plans, Panhandle Plains, Piney Woods and the Gulf Coast.

Nestled between the Texas mountains and the Chihuahuan Desert in Texas's Western-most tip, the Big Bend region has majestic canyons and the hip art town of Marfa. Sul Ross State is a day trip from Big Bend National Park, where adventurous students can raft or hike by day and stargaze by night.

Just to the east is the Hill Country, with over 350 wineries. This region also has the state's capital, Austin, known for it thriving music scene and UT Austin.

The South Texas Plains are the place to indulge in Tex Mex cuisine cuisine, explore historic San Antonio or birdwatch in the Rio Grande Valley. The region has several colleges, including UT San Antonio, Trinity University, and UT Rio Grand Valley.

The Panhandle Plains in Northern Texas are full of natural wonders and wildlife, and is where Texas Tech is located.

The Prairies & Lakes region has several big cities and universities, including SMU in Dallas, Texas Christian in Fort Worth, Baylor in Waco, and TAMU in College Station.

Piney Woods in eastern Texas is a great destination for those who love outdoor adventures and history. The biggest city in the region is Tyler, which has UT Tyler.

Texas' Gulf Coast offers 600 miles of sandy shoreline and the state's biggest city, Houston. Houston has many colleges, including University of Houston, Rice, and Texas Southern.

Texas major industries

Texas has a strong economy and is largest exporting state in the country. There are 2.4 million small businesses in Texas, and fifty Fortune 500 companies, including ExxonMobile, AT&T, and Dell Technologies. 

Key Industries in Texas are:

1. Aerospace & Aviation
2. Agriculture & Food Business
3. Automotive
4. Bio-Technology & Medical Supply
5. Corporate Headquarters, Office & Support
6. Energy
7. Information Technology & Cybersecurity
8. Manufacturing & Advanced Manufacturing
9. Supply Chain & Logistics

Cost of living in Texas

The cost of living in Texas is 93.9, slightly below the national average of 100. Transportation costs are slightly higher than average in Texas. The cost of food, healthcare, and housing is slightly below the national average. 

Texas in-state vs. out-of-state tuition

In-state and out-of-state tuition at Texas public schools varies. UT Dallas is one of the most expensive public schools in Texas, followed by Texas A&M, Texas Tech, University of Houston, and UT Austin.

In 2021-2022, tuition at Texas A&M for an undergraduate Texas resident living on campus is $31,476 while tuition for an undergraduate non-resident is $60,460.

2021-2022 undergrad in-state tuition at Texas Tech is $27,156 and out-of-state tuition is $39,426.

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