2023 Best Value Schools in Texas
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices
Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
The Best Value Schools in Texas ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 107 schools in Texas to see which programs offered the best value experiences for students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
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Top Value Schools in Texas
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Collin County Community College District to be the best value school for students in Texas. Collin County Community College District is a large public school located in McKinney, Texas that handed out 5,703 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Collin County Community College District are $5,104 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,379 in student loans.After graduating from Collin County Community College District, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,890 during the early years of their career.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Collin County Community College District also is in the top 10% of our Best Schools in Texas ranking.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Central Texas College is a great place for students who want to get the most value for their educational dollar. Central Texas College is a medium-sized public school located in Killeen, Texas that handed out 2,323 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Texas College are $7,440 per year. On average, students take out $11,605 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Central Texas College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,587 during the early year of their career.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Central Texas College also is in the top 10% of our Best Schools in Texas ranking.
Out of the 107 schools in Texas that were part of this year’s ranking, Lamar Institute of Technology landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in Beaumont, Texas, the small public school handed out 862 degrees in 2020-2021.
Lamar Institute of Technology undergraduate students pay an average of $12,636 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,792 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Lamar Institute of Technology graduates make an average of $50,865 annually.
The excellent programs at Tarrant County College District helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best value schools in Texas. Tarrant County College District is a large public school located in Fort Worth, Texas that handed out 8,528 degrees in 2020-2021.
Tarrant County College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,235 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,851 in student loans.After graduating from Tarrant County College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,816 during the early years of their career.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Tarrant County College also is in the top 20% of our Best Schools in Texas ranking.
The excellent programs at Galveston College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value schools in Texas. Located in Galveston, Texas, the small public school awarded 660 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Galveston College are $5,200 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $17,077 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Galveston College graduates make an average of $49,840 annually.
El Centro College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Texas list. This large public school is located in Dallas, Texas, and it awarded 12,775 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at El Centro College are $6,000 per year. On average, students take out $18,288 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, El Centro College graduates make an average of $38,417 annually.
El Centro College also claimed a spot on our Best Schools in Texas list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
Lee College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Texas list. Baytown, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 3,684 students in 2020-2021.
Lee College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,302 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,232 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Lee College graduates make an average of $53,502 annually.
Lee College also claimed a spot on our Best Schools in Texas list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
San Jacinto Community College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. San Jacinto College is a large public school situated in Pasadena, Texas. It awarded 7,278 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at San Jacinto College are $5,040 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $14,185 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from San Jacinto College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $36,140 during the early years of their career.
Amarillo College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Located in Amarillo, Texas, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,959 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Amarillo College are $4,704 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,791 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Amarillo College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,621 during the early year of their career.
College of the Mainland came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Texas ranking. COM is located in Texas City, Texas and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,297 degrees to qualified students.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at COM are $3,873 per year. On average, students take out $14,935 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, COM graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,291 during the early year of their career.
McLennan Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Texas ranking. Located in Waco, Texas, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,886 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
MCC undergraduate students pay an average of $5,910 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $17,241 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, MCC graduates make an average of $43,510 annually.
MCC also claimed a spot on our Best Schools in Texas list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Alvin Community College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Alvin is located in Alvin, Texas and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,178 degrees to qualified students.
Alvin undergraduate students pay an average of $4,010 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $12,805 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Alvin, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,644 during the early years of their career.
South Texas College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #13 on the list. South Texas College is a large public school located in McAllen, Texas that handed out 5,669 degrees in 2020-2021.
South Texas College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,920 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $8,601 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, South Texas College graduates make an average of $29,327 annually.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, South Texas College also is in the top 15% of our Best Schools in Texas ranking.
The University of Texas at Brownsville ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Texas list. Located in Brownsville, Texas, the medium-sized public school handed out 984 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at The University of Texas at Brownsville are $4,948 a year. On average, students take out $11,811 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from The University of Texas at Brownsville, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $29,311 during the early years of their career.
Odessa College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Texas ranking. Odessa College is a medium-sized public school situated in Odessa, Texas. It awarded 1,725 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Odessa College are $4,398 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,879 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Odessa College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,427 during the early year of their career.
El Paso Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Texas ranking. El Paso, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 4,333 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at El Paso Community College are $5,314 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,989 in student loans.After graduating from El Paso Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $27,128 during the early years of their career.
Wharton County Junior College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Texas ranking. Wharton, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 739 students in 2020-2021.
Wharton County Junior College undergraduate students pay an average of $4,872 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $11,953 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Wharton County Junior College graduates make an average of $41,858 annually.
Lone Star College System came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Texas ranking. North Harris Montgomery is a large public school situated in The Woodlands, Texas. It awarded 11,684 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at North Harris Montgomery are $6,168 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $14,481 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, North Harris Montgomery graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,839 during the early year of their career.
North Harris Montgomery excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Schools in Texas list.
Grayson College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Grayson College is a public institution located in Denison, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,543 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Grayson College are $5,482 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $15,399 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Grayson College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,430 during the early year of their career.
Tyler Junior College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Tyler Junior College is a public institution located in Tyler, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,533 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Tyler Junior College are $4,440 per year. On average, students take out $16,583 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Tyler Junior College graduates make an average of $37,511 annually.
Midland College landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Located in Midland, Texas, the medium-sized public school handed out 811 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Midland College are $5,880 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,310 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Midland College graduates make an average of $50,718 annually.
Houston Community College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. This large public school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 6,693 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Houston Community College are $5,460 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $21,482 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Houston Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,283 during the early years of their career.
Navarro College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Texas list. This medium-sized public school is located in Corsicana, Texas, and it awarded 1,325 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Navarro College are $6,368 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,094 in student loans.After graduating from Navarro College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,091 during the early years of their career.
Temple College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Temple College is located in Temple, Texas and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 735 degrees to qualified students.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Temple College are $6,432 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $19,088 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Temple College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,785 during the early year of their career.
South Plains College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #25 on the list. Located in Levelland, Texas, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,581 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at South Plains College are $4,276 a year. On average, students take out $15,786 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, South Plains College graduates make an average of $32,859 annually.
Best Value Schools in the Southwest Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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