These 3 Houston-area universities made WalletHub’s 2026 top 10 best colleges in Texas
With college-application deadlines fast approaching and tuition costs soaring, a new report is giving Texas students and parents a clearer look at which universities deliver the best value.
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Researchers at WalletHub compared nearly 800 colleges and universities across the U.S., analyzing 30 key factors ranging from admission rates, graduation numbers, to student-faculty ratios and post-graduation salaries.
When it comes to Texas, three Houston-area schools landed in the top 10:
- Rice University (No. 1 overall)
- Texas A&M University – College Station (No. 4)
- University of Houston (No. 10)
Other Texas standouts include the University of Texas at Austin (No. 2), Trinity University (No. 3), and Texas Christian University (No. 5).
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According to WalletHub, Rice ranked first in the state for several key measures, including admission rate, diversity, graduation rate, and post-attendance median salary.
The university was also ranked 9th best in the U.S. in WalletHub’s study. That’s because researchers examined its student-faculty ratio, underscoring its reputation for small-classroom learning and high academic engagement.
Texas A&M, which came in fourth, scored particularly well for its student-faculty ratio and strong diversity, while the University of Houston joined the top 10 thanks to steady improvements in graduation outcomes and career readiness.
WalletHub’s rankings arrive just as high-school seniors face the Nov. 1 early-decision deadline, with annual college costs ranging anywhere from $24,000 to $58,000 per year when factoring in tuition, room, and board.
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To see how all of Texas’ universities stacked up and which U.S. schools ranked best overall, you can read the full 2026 WalletHub College & University Rankings here.
