Best Colleges and Universities in Texas

Texas is the largest state in terms of area of all the 48 contiguous United States. For the second largest populated state in the country it makes sense that there are many schools to educate the residents. However, to pull the top schools out of the pack is something most potential students would like to do. Thus, here is a comprehensive list of eight of the top schools in the state of Texas.

Rice University

Rice University is ranked number 17 in the most recent listing of U.S. News and World Reports top U.S. Colleges. It is located in Houston, Texas. The school is located just up from the Medical Center area of Houston and is surrounded by two other Houston universities (The University of Houston and Texas Southern University). It is considered to be a selective school in terms of the people that are admitted to the school. The areas of academics that they are known for are computer science, physics, and biomedical engineering. Tuition is $26,106 per year, with room and board being an additional $10,250. 68% of the students that attend the school live in university-based housing. All dormitories on campus are 100% co-ed.

University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin, is ranked 44^th in the U.S. News Top College report. It is located in the heart of the capital of the state of Texas, Austin, Texas. The school is considered to be slightly selective. The school specializes in architecture, business, law, and pharmacy. The school is a public school and tuition is $7,670 for residents of Texas and $24,544 for out-of-state students. Room and board is $8,576. Only 19% of students attending the school reside in housing that it school affiliated. On campus dormitories are 84% co-ed, 13% female, and 3% male.

Texas A & M University - College Station

Texas A & M University - College Station is located in College Station, Texas. The closest city to College Station is Bryan, Texas, which is about five miles away. However, the closest large city is Houston, Texas, which is 96 miles for the college campus. This school is also considered to be slightly selective in its admissions process. The school specialized in engineering, agriculture, geosciences, and veterinary medicine. This is a state school and tuition is $7,335 for residents of Texas and $15,675 for out-of-state students. Room and board is $7,660. Only 25% of students live in college-associated housing. On campus dorms are 33% co-ed, 24% female, and 41% male.

Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist University is located in Dallas, Texas in an area known as Highland Park. The campus is approximately 6 miles from downtown Dallas. This school is more selective in the admissions process. The school specializes in business, law, theology, and art. Tuition is $30,880 and room and board is $10,825. 45% of the students reside in housing that school affiliated. 68% of the housing is co-ed dorms, 11% is sorority housing, 11% is fraternity housing, 2% apartments for married students, and 8% of apartments for single students.

Baylor University

Baylor University is located in Waco, Texas. Waco is about 100 miles south of Dallas, Texas. The school is considered to be more selective in its admissions process. The school specializes in theology, music, social work, and nursing. Tuition is $24,490 and room and board is $7,526. 32% of students live in school-affiliated housing. Housing is made up of women's dorms, men's dorms, apartments for the disabled, apartments for singles, and apartments for married couples.

Texas Christian University

Texas Christian University is located in Fort Worth, Texas. The school is considered to be more selective in the admissions process. The school specializes in communication, business, health sciences, and divinity. 43% of students attending the school like in college associated housing. Tuition is $24,868 and room and board is $8,200. The school offers a mix of co-ed dorms, women's dorms, men's dorms, sorority houses, fraternity houses, apartments for singles, and apartments for married couples.

Trinity University

Trinity University is located in San Antonio, Texas. The school is considered to be selective in its admissions process. The school specializes in art, linguistics, and international studies. Tuition is $23,136. 72% of students that attend that school live in school-affiliated housing. Housing consists of 100% co-ed dorms.

University of Texas at Dallas

The University of Texas at Dallas is located in Richardson, Texas, which is a suburb of Dallas, Texas. Downtown Dallas, which is the nearest city, is about 15 miles away. The school is considered to be slightly competitive in its admissions process. The school's best majors are computer science, engineering, management, and mathematics. Tuition is $4,030 for in state residents and $9,084 for out of state residents. On campus housing is limited. Freshman housing is $426 per person per month. For upper classmen, a one-bedroom/one-bathroom apartment is $634. A two-bedroom-two bathroom apartment is $1,090. They also require a $100 security deposit and $35 application fee.

Whichever choice one makes of the schools in Texas, there are many different degrees and majors offered to suit even the most competitive of students.

Source:
National Universities: Top Schools
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/t1natudoc_brief.php