An Insider Guide to Texas’s Top Schools

The great state of Texas offers a wide range of outstanding academic institutions. Whether you’re hoping to attend a large public university, a liberal arts college, or a small private school, you can find exactly what you’re looking for within the Lone Star State. 

If you’re a current resident hoping to stay close to home or an out-of-state student interested in studying in the fastest growing state in terms of college application numbers, it’s worthwhile to compare your options and make an informed decision on which schools might be the best fit for you. 

Check out the chart below for a detailed comparison of some of the most popular Texas schools for B2A students. 

School	Location	Public or Private	US News Ranking	Undergrad Population	Acceptance Rate	Auto Admission
UT Austin	Austin	Public	30	42,444	29% (<10% outside top 5)	Auto-admit: Top 5%
Rice	Houston	Private	18	4,574	8%	N/A
Texas A&M	College Station	Public	51	59,933	63%	Auto-admit: Top 10%
Baylor	Waco	Private	91	15,155	51%	N/A
UT Dallas	Richardson	Public	109	21,330	65%	Auto-admit: Top 10%
Southern Methodist University	Dallas	Private	91	7,115	61%	N/A
Austin College	Sherman	Private	93 (Liberal Arts)	1,169	47%	N/A
Texas Tech	Lubbock	Public	216	32,579	71%	Assured admission:  Top 75% with 1280+ SAT
University of Houston	Houston	Public	144	37,943	70%	Assured admission:  Top 50% with 3.45+ GPA
Trinity University	San Antonio	Private	40 (Liberal Arts)	2,531	28%	N/A
Texas Christian University	Fort Worth	Private	105	10,915	43%	N/A
Texas State University	San Marcos	Public	273	34,547	89%	Assured Admission: Top 25%
University of North Texas	Denton	Public	220	33,858	72%	Guaranteed Admission: Top 10%

All of the institutions above provide excellent opportunities for students to round out their college list and ensure their acceptance into programs that match their passions and overall profile. And, if you’re a Texas resident, deciding on a plan for in-state applications will ensure you set yourself up for college admissions success!

Found a school you like? What’s next?

1. Do deeper research 

   Take your time to look beyond statistics and find out what the admissions requirements are and what the school is looking for to see if you’re a good fit. You should also explore the majors and programs offered by the school to see what unique opportunities are available. Finally, consider the cost of attendance and potential forms of financial aid and scholarships. 

2. Visit

   Get a sense of what resources the school has and what student life is like on campus. For this, students should prioritize visiting these campuses and signing up for guided tours to get personal insight into their offerings and to assess if the campus suits their interests. See our blog post for tips to make the most of your time. Unable to visit? Register for online information sessions and explore virtual tour options.

3. Meet with a college admissions advisor

   Find someone who can help you strategize your application and offer insight into ways to strengthen your profile. B2A’s college admissions counselors have advanced degrees from competitive colleges and years of experience navigating the landscape of higher education. 

Do you need help determining what a balanced college list looks like for you? B2A’s Gateway Program will walk you through every step of your college admissions process: finalizing a complete list of colleges to apply to, brainstorming and drafting your essays, and ensuring that all materials are ready for submission for up to five schools. 

For students in grades 7-11, get a head start on your applications with our Steps Program. Your individually-selected college admissions counselor will guide you through your high school experience, ensuring that you’re ahead of the game heading into college applications.