Paying for college · Texas
What college really costs in Texas
Average yearly net price after grants at 69 four-year colleges, lowest first. The figure for families earning under $30,000 shows how far need-based aid goes at each school.
Texas state grants
- TEXAS Grant: Set each year by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; your school's aid office shows the current amount
- Federal Pell Grant: up to $7,395 a year (2026–27)
Working while you study
$7.25/hour minimum wage
Texas follows the federal minimum wage.
All four-year colleges in Texas
| College | Avg net price | Income under $30k | Graduate | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criswell CollegeDallas · private | $4,570 | $4,525 | 41% | — |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyEdinburg · public | $4,858 | $3,980 | 55% | $12,250 |
| Wiley UniversityMarshall · private | $6,125 | $5,259 | 40% | $20,050 |
| The University of Texas at El PasoEl Paso · public | $6,803 | $5,623 | 51% | $16,000 |
| Lamar UniversityBeaumont · public | $7,984 | $7,196 | 39% | $21,875 |
| Texas A&M University-VictoriaVictoria · public | $8,115 | $5,327 | 22% | $18,750 |
| University of Houston-DowntownHouston · public | $9,828 | $8,865 | 30% | $18,750 |
| University of Texas at San AntonioSan Antonio · public | $9,872 | $7,752 | 52% | $20,000 |
| Texas Woman's UniversityDenton · public | $11,060 | $9,412 | 49% | $18,919 |
| Rice UniversityHouston · private | $11,164 | $5,707 | 95% | $13,000 |
| University of HoustonHouston · public | $11,439 | $8,468 | 66% | $17,250 |
| Midwestern State UniversityWichita Falls · public | $11,793 | $10,505 | 42% | $21,375 |
| University of Houston-Clear LakeHouston · public | $11,852 | $9,544 | 45% | $17,928 |
| Jarvis Christian UniversityHawkins · private | $12,317 | $11,142 | 23% | $23,250 |
| Southwestern Adventist UniversityKeene · private | $12,685 | $11,510 | 50% | $25,547 |
| Texas A&M University-KingsvilleKingsville · public | $13,212 | $11,387 | 45% | $21,887 |
| Angelo State UniversitySan Angelo · public | $13,394 | $9,818 | 45% | $18,564 |
| The University of Texas at TylerTyler · public | $13,476 | $11,531 | 47% | $17,000 |
| Hallmark UniversitySan Antonio · private | $13,495 | $13,392 | 65% | $29,923 |
| Prairie View A & M UniversityPrairie View · public | $13,638 | $9,985 | 46% | $25,450 |
| Texas A & M University-Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi · public | $13,843 | $11,006 | 38% | $20,000 |
| East Texas A&M UniversityCommerce · public | $13,974 | $12,870 | 41% | $18,349 |
| Paul Quinn CollegeDallas · private | $14,147 | $12,642 | 28% | $17,716 |
| Texas A&M University-San AntonioSan Antonio · public | $14,298 | $13,431 | 34% | $20,457 |
| Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsville · public | $14,788 | $11,734 | 56% | $21,000 |
| The University of Texas at DallasRichardson · public | $15,271 | $10,562 | 79% | $17,567 |
| University of North TexasDenton · public | $15,358 | $12,866 | 63% | $18,000 |
| University of St ThomasHouston · private | $15,446 | $15,117 | 67% | $18,000 |
| Stephen F Austin State UniversityNacogdoches · public | $15,928 | $13,392 | 55% | $21,000 |
| Texas Wesleyan UniversityFort Worth · private | $16,168 | $16,317 | 38% | $19,500 |
| Sul Ross State UniversityAlpine · public | $16,255 | $13,425 | 30% | $16,500 |
| Texas State UniversitySan Marcos · public | $16,660 | $13,022 | 55% | $19,500 |
| Texas A&M University-TexarkanaTexarkana · public | $16,934 | $6,697 | 29% | $20,000 |
| University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington · public | $17,040 | $15,732 | 51% | $17,534 |
| University of the Incarnate WordSan Antonio · private | $17,483 | $14,856 | 53% | $25,000 |
| St. Mary's UniversitySan Antonio · private | $17,775 | $17,451 | 58% | $22,000 |
| West Texas A & M UniversityCanyon · public | $17,909 | $16,503 | 50% | $18,750 |
| University of Texas at AustinAustin · public | $18,554 | $8,979 | 89% | $19,000 |
| McMurry UniversityAbilene · private | $19,021 | $15,239 | 42% | $26,000 |
| Houston Christian UniversityHouston · private | $19,294 | $19,028 | 48% | $22,021 |
| Hardin-Simmons UniversityAbilene · private | $19,731 | $13,040 | 44% | $22,500 |
| Texas Tech UniversityLubbock · public | $19,890 | $15,008 | 70% | $19,500 |
| Austin CollegeSherman · private | $20,077 | $14,111 | 66% | $24,000 |
| Tarleton State UniversityStephenville · public | $20,525 | $16,034 | 49% | $18,750 |
| Texas Lutheran UniversitySeguin · private | $20,716 | $19,656 | 52% | $25,000 |
| Schreiner UniversityKerrville · private | $21,252 | $16,936 | 45% | $24,895 |
| Texas A&M UniversityCollege Station · public | $21,527 | $13,226 | 85% | $17,350 |
| Trinity UniversitySan Antonio · private | $22,962 | $14,120 | 82% | $20,500 |
| East Texas Baptist UniversityMarshall · private | $23,414 | $23,802 | 45% | $21,799 |
| Wayland Baptist UniversityPlainview · private | $23,421 | $22,129 | 20% | $22,000 |
| North American UniversityStafford · private | $24,462 | $24,029 | 41% | $15,558 |
| Dallas Baptist UniversityDallas · private | $25,954 | $22,030 | 60% | $18,000 |
| Saint Edward's UniversityAustin · private | $26,034 | $22,642 | 57% | $21,500 |
| Concordia University TexasAustin · private | $26,128 | $21,319 | 43% | $23,475 |
| Dallas Christian CollegeDallas · private | $26,141 | $27,354 | 24% | $21,063 |
| Nelson UniversityWaxahachie · private | $26,425 | $23,966 | 37% | $23,500 |
| Howard Payne UniversityBrownwood · private | $26,563 | $22,907 | 34% | $23,125 |
| Lubbock Christian UniversityLubbock · private | $26,595 | $19,785 | 50% | $21,689 |
| LeTourneau UniversityLongview · private | $26,985 | $27,142 | 62% | $23,250 |
| Abilene Christian UniversityAbilene · private | $27,943 | $27,867 | 55% | $20,500 |
| Parker UniversityDallas · private | $28,806 | $27,384 | 83% | $12,500 |
| University of Mary Hardin-BaylorBelton · private | $29,143 | $25,478 | 47% | $25,000 |
| Southwestern UniversityGeorgetown · private | $29,435 | $21,387 | 74% | $23,250 |
| Arlington Baptist UniversityArlington · private | $30,957 | $30,472 | 33% | $24,849 |
| Huston-Tillotson UniversityAustin · private | $32,089 | $30,876 | 35% | — |
| Texas Christian UniversityFort Worth · private | $35,045 | $22,363 | 86% | $21,500 |
| Southern Methodist UniversityDallas · private | $39,816 | $31,728 | 83% | $18,750 |
| Baylor UniversityWaco · private | $44,441 | $45,498 | 82% | $19,500 |
| University of DallasIrving · private | $68,064 | $67,916 | 66% | $22,250 |
Linked colleges have a full funding guide. More are added every week.
Short of what aid covers?
Students in Texas use My Study Fund to collect monthly support from family, friends and mentors, and receive every dollar.
Sources
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; state program pages linked above, checked 2026-10-28. Four-year, campus-based public and private nonprofit colleges with complete net-price data.