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Top Affordable Colleges in Texas
By
Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman
Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.
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Looking for affordable schools in Texas? You’re in luck. Texas has many affordable college options for students, including in-state tuition at public schools, private schools with strong merit aid, and great options for starting at community colleges and transferring to 4-year schools.
Our list includes options for in-state and out-of-state students, as well as students with varying economic or academic situations.
It’s important to note that the affordability of a school will vary on a student-by-student basis. Your financial and academic situation will determine how much financial aid you receive. Each school calculates this differently, so it’s a good idea to apply to many schools and to find options that favor your academic and financial background.
Best need-based aid
Rice University
Rice University is one of the most competitive schools in the state, but if you manage to gain admission, they have a very generous need-based financial aid program. Their Rice Investment Program awards an automatic full ride scholarship to any student whose family makes 75K or less annually. They continue to offer very generous awards for income brackets above 75K.
Best merit aid
Texas Wesleyan
Texas Wesleyan has one of the strongest aid programs in the state. Over 90% of their students receive aid, and students with a high school GPA of 3.0 or above automatically qualify for scholarships ranging from $17,000-$23,000 annually. This is in addition to other merit-based scholarships that come through departments and other more specific selection processes. You can also apply for more external scholarships through our list of Texas scholarships.
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist offers a wide range of merit scholarships to incoming freshmen, including an annual $5,000 for any student who was named a National Merit Scholar. They also have scholarships for students who went to IB schools and students who are transferring in.
Trinity
Trinity has a very strong financial aid program; in fact, 60% of graduating students in 2024 had no debt. They have a comprehensive list of merit scholarships listed on their website – check it out to see if you may qualify.
Best for in-state students
Public school ends up being the most affordable option for many in-state students due to the in-state tuition discount. Texas has great community college options as well as an amazing public university system. We’ll get into both here.
UT-Austin
Did you know that UT-Austin automatically admits all Texas students who finish high school in the top 6% of their class?
For many students, this is an automatic ticket to in-state tuition at one of the country’s most renowned public universities. With in-state tuition costing roughly ¼ of regular tuition, this is a hugely affordable option for many Texas students.
Other Public Texas Colleges
UT-Austin isn’t the only affordable public option in the state. Texas A&M and the University of Texas at Dallas are both great options with in-state discounts and strong merit and need-based aid. If you are an in-state student looking for affordable tuition, all three of these options could be worth applying to.
Texas Community College
If you are looking to save as much money as you can, community college can often be your best bet. It comes at a fraction of the price of most 4-year schools, and with flexible schedules and the option of commuting and maintaining a full-time job, it can be worked into many kinds of schedules.
Check out the Texas Association of Community Colleges for an extensive list of options. And remember, many students do two years at a community college, then transfer to a four-year school to complete their degree.
Frequently asked questions about affordable college in Texas
How can I establish residency in Texas?
What if my FAFSA does not show financial need?
Additionally, if you have a strong academic background, you can try applying to private schools with strong merit-based aid. Oftentimes, you’ll get the best merit aid at schools that are not overly selective, but have strong merit scholarships.
Another option is to apply to competitive schools and, after gaining admission, send them a financial aid appeal letter to explain why your financial situation is not captured by your FAFSA and/or CSS Profile. They may adjust your aid offer and grant you admission.
