State Hub

Colleges in Texas

CampusPin tracks 234 colleges in Texas — 142 universities and 92 community colleges. Compare tuition, acceptance, size, and setting to build a shortlist that fits.

Colleges tracked

234

Universities

142

Community colleges

92

Avg. in-state tuition

$14k

About college search in Texas

How Texas's higher-education landscape shapes a search

Texas operates one of the largest public higher-education sectors in the U.S., organized around six public university systems: The University of Texas System (UT Austin flagship plus 8 other academic institutions), The Texas A&M University System (Texas A&M flagship plus 10 other institutions including Prairie View A&M HBCU), the Texas State University System, the University of Houston System, the University of North Texas System, and the Texas Tech University System. Texas also runs 50 community college districts — one of the larger CC networks in the country — and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) coordinates statewide policy and the Texas Common Course Numbering System.

Texas has unique policies that shape college search. The Top 10% Rule guarantees admission to most Texas public universities for students who graduate in the top 10% of their Texas high school class (UT Austin uses a higher cap that has fluctuated around the top 5–6% in recent years). The Texas Tomorrow Fund / Texas Tuition Promise Fund prepay programs and the TEXAS Grant reduce in-state cost for eligible families. Verify current admissions guarantees and aid eligibility directly with the institution.

Six public university systems

Texas’s public four-year sector is organized into six systems: UT, Texas A&M, Texas State, University of Houston, University of North Texas, and Texas Tech. Each governs multiple institutions.

50 community college districts

Texas operates 50 community college districts including Houston CC, Dallas College, Austin CC, Lone Star, and the Alamo Colleges. The Texas Common Course Numbering System formalizes credit transfer.

Top 10% Rule

Texas guarantees admission to most public universities for students in the top 10% of their Texas high school class. UT Austin has used a higher cap (recently the top 5–6%). Verify with the institution.

Multiple HBCUs

Texas hosts public HBCUs Prairie View A&M (Texas A&M System) and Texas Southern University (Houston), plus private HBCUs Huston-Tillotson (Austin), Wiley (Marshall), Jarvis Christian (Hawkins), and Texas College (Tyler).

Public university system

Six public university systems coordinated by THECB

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) coordinates statewide policy across six independent public university systems: UT, Texas A&M, Texas State, University of Houston, University of North Texas, and Texas Tech.

Community college network

Texas’s 50 community college districts

Texas operates 50 independent community college districts. The Texas Common Course Numbering System (TCCNS) standardizes course numbering across community colleges and public universities to formalize credit transfer.

In-state vs. out-of-state tuition

Texas in-state public tuition is in the mid-range nationally; out-of-state rates are substantially higher. The Top 10% Rule reshapes admissions for in-state students. Verify residency rules with the institution — Texas closely scrutinizes residency claims.

Top metros for college search

Where Texas's higher-education density concentrates

  • Houston

    Houston anchors Rice (private), the University of Houston, Texas Southern (HBCU), the University of St. Thomas, and Houston Community College.

  • Dallas-Fort Worth

    DFW hosts SMU (private), UT Dallas, UT Arlington, UNT (Denton), TCU (Fort Worth), Dallas College, and Tarrant County College.

  • Austin

    Austin is built around UT Austin (the state’s primary public flagship), Austin Community College, St. Edward’s, and Huston-Tillotson (HBCU).

  • San Antonio

    San Antonio hosts UTSA, Trinity (private), St. Mary’s, the University of the Incarnate Word, and the Alamo Colleges.

  • College Station / Bryan

    College Station is built around Texas A&M University, the state’s major land-grant and second flagship.

  • Lubbock

    Lubbock is the home of Texas Tech University and South Plains College in nearby Levelland.

South region overview

What students weigh when searching colleges in Texas

Across Texas (TX), CampusPin currently indexes 234 institutions: 102 public and 132 private, split between 142 universities and 92 community colleges. Students often compare fast-growing metros, flagship publics, regional campuses, and cost-sensitive pathways across a wide mix of institutions.

Run one search for broad public options and another for community-college or commuter-oriented pathways.
Check campus setting and support services early because regional fit can vary more than names alone suggest.
Keep cost, transfer, and online flexibility visible if location is important but not completely fixed.

Browse by major

Texas colleges by program

Jump straight to Texas colleges and universities that offer a specific major. Each page compares tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment for that program across Texas.

Every college we track

Colleges and universities in Texas

Showing 60 of 234 — use search or filters to see the rest.

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How to use the Texas hub

Start with CampusPin results filtered to Texas so your first pass stays geographically focused.
Use school profiles to compare tuition, admissions, program format, and campus fit before building a shortlist.
If you are looking for lower-cost or transfer-first options, compare community colleges and four-year destinations separately.
Use blog guides and help-center content when you need stronger decision frameworks, not just more schools.

Next actions for Texas

Explore all colleges in TexasView community colleges in TexasView online programs in TexasRead planning guides before you compare

Frequently asked questions

Questions families ask about colleges in Texas

Which is the public flagship university in Texas?
Texas has two primary public flagships: the University of Texas at Austin (the state’s major research university) and Texas A&M University in College Station (the state’s major land-grant institution). Both are members of separate university systems.
How does the Texas Top 10% Rule work?
Texas guarantees admission to most public universities for students who graduate in the top 10% of their Texas high school class. UT Austin has used a higher cap in recent years (around the top 5–6%) to manage capacity. The rule applies to Texas high school students only — verify current admissions guarantees with the institution.
How many HBCUs are in Texas?
Texas has nine HBCUs, including two public (Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern) and seven private (including Huston-Tillotson, Wiley, Jarvis Christian, Paul Quinn, and Texas College).
What are the largest community colleges in Texas?
Texas’s largest community college districts include Houston Community College, Dallas College, Lone Star College (Houston area), Austin Community College, Alamo Colleges (San Antonio), and Tarrant County College (DFW). All operate multiple campuses across their service areas.
How does the Texas Common Course Numbering System help transfer students?
The Texas Common Course Numbering System (TCCNS) assigns standardized course numbers to lower-division courses across Texas community colleges and public universities. Credits taken under a TCCNS number transfer between participating institutions with equivalent credit, reducing the risk of lost credit when transferring.

Related blog clusters

Guides that pair well with a Texas search

Cost and Financial Aid

College affordability, net price, aid interpretation, borrowing decisions, and budgeting guidance for students and families using CampusPin to compare higher-ed options with more discipline.

Community College

Community-college strategy, affordability, transfer readiness, and credential pathway content for students exploring two-year options through CampusPin.

College Search Strategy

Filter-first search strategy, shortlist building, and planning content for students and parents using CampusPin to discover best-fit colleges and universities.

Help Center

Workflow guides for students searching in Texas

Getting Started With CampusPin

A fast orientation to the CampusPin workflow, from your first search through profile review, pins, and next-step planning.

How to Use Filters to Narrow Your College List

A practical help article on how to use CampusPin filters without over-filtering or locking yourself into the wrong criteria too early.

How to Read a CampusPin School Profile

A guide to the major sections inside a CampusPin institution profile and how to interpret them effectively. Each page is designed to connect search intent to clearer next steps, internal links, and more defensible CampusPin decisions.