They say everything is bigger in Texas, but you can still find some great small colleges in the state. This ranking features the best small colleges in Texas. Whether they are nationally ranked liberal arts colleges or small regionally ranked universities, Texas has many university options for students. Especially those who want a great deal and are looking for the small college experience.
Small colleges have a lot to offer. Often access to services and opportunities is superior at small colleges. Opportunities and services often don’t increase proportional to the student body population. This means you will likely know everyone in your major. The increased individual attention and close-knit communities are a real bonus. Both can provide students with formal and informal support networks. These are instrumental in helping students succeed in earning their bachelor’s degree. Most of these schools focus primarily on bachelor’s degree programs. You can find more information on our methodology and the reasoning behind it in the methodology and FAQ section at the end of the article. For now, enjoy our ranking of the top ten small colleges in Texas.
Ranking the Best Small Colleges in Texas
#1. Austin College
Website
Score: 100
Located in the state capital, Austin College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. The undergraduate student body population is just shy of 1,300. The student/faculty ratio is 12:1. This small college has been featured in top colleges rankings by:
- U.S. News & World Report
- Kiplinger
- Forbes
- Money,
- The Wall Street Journal
Austin College encourages global experience. About 70% of graduates have at least one international study experience.
- U.S. News Ranking: National Liberal Arts #102
- 20yr Net Return on Investment: $413,000
- Tuition: $42,590
- Graduation/Transfer Rate: 72%
#2. Southwestern University
Website
Score: 99.19
Southwestern University was founded in 1840. It is the oldest university in Texas. The school is historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Southwestern University has an innovative liberal arts program. This bachelor’s degree program integrates:
- fine arts
- social sciences
- natural sciences
- the humanities
This interdisciplinary learning prepares students to build new knowledge. This allows them to adapt to a changing society. The school has a 12:1 student/faculty ratio and an undergraduate student body population of 1,500.
- U.S. News Ranking: National Liberal Arts #102
- 20yr Net Return on Investment: $317,000
- Tuition: $45,120
- Graduation/Transfer Rate: 95%
#3. University of Dallas
Website
Score: 98.54
The University of Dallas is a Roman Catholic university located in Irving, Texas. The school offers a traditional liberal education based on the model outlined by Cardinal John Henry Newman. Most of the classes are discussion based. The the average class size is 16 students to facilitate that discussion. The student/faculty ratio is 11 :1, with an undergraduate population of 1,475 students.
- U.S. News Ranking: Regional #6
- 20yr Net Return on Investment: $329,000
- Tuition: $45,160
- Graduation/Transfer Rate: 95%
#4. Southwestern Adventist University
Website
Score: 95.15
Southwestern Adventist University is a small Christian college with a 15:1 student/faculty ratio. The undergraduate population is just under 700 students. The university admits roughly 58% of applicants. The Christian faith is central to the campus culture of this school. Most students are Seventh-day Adventist, or at least Christian. Bachelor’s degree programs include:
- business administration
- communication
- computer science
- English
- education
- mathematics
- nursing
- religion.
- U.S. News Ranking: Regional #11
- 20yr Net Return on Investment: $300,000
- Tuition: $22,836
- Graduation/Transfer Rate: 80%
#5. Hardin-Simmons University
Website
Score: 91.55
Hardin-Simmons University is located in Abilene, Texas. It was founded in 1891 as Abilene Baptist College. It retains its affiliation with the Baptist General Convention of Texas to this day. The undergraduate student body population is around 1,700. This makes it one of the larger colleges featured in this ranking, though still quite small. Hardin-Simmons takes pride in its 12:1 student/faculty ratio. The school strives to cultivate a familial culture on campus. Christian faith and religious practice play a large role in both academics and campus life at the university.
- U.S. News Ranking: Regional #37
- 20yr Net Return on Investment: $245,000
- Tuition: $31,364
- Graduation/Transfer Rate: 95%
#6. McMurry University
Website
Score: 83.57
McMurry University is another Christian university located in Abilene. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Many non-religious universities are historically Methodist (like Duke University). McMurry is very much a Methodist university, shaped by Christian principles and practice. Anyone attending can expect faith to play a large role in campus life and in the classroom. McMurry has an undergraduate population of a little over 1,100 students and a 10:1 student/faculty ratio.
- U.S. News Ranking: Regional #13
- 20yr Net Return on Investment: $213,000
- Tuition: $28,830
- Graduation/Transfer Rate: 78%
#7. Lubbock Christian University
Website
Score: 81.21
Lubbock Christian University is associated with the Churches of Christ denomination. Student enrollment is 1,664. The university strives to keep class sizes small with a 13:1 student/faculty ratio. 15% of the school’s full-time students are in the honors college. LCU offers 61 bachelor’s degree programs and 19 graduate programs. The school’s NCAA division II athletics program has won 17 national championships. So if you’re looking for a small Christian college with a strong athletics program, Lubbock Christian College is a great choice.
- U.S. News Ranking: Regional #68
- 20yr Net Return on Investment: $192,000
- Tuition: $24,260
- Graduation/Transfer Rate: 84%
#8. Texas Lutheran University
Website
Score: 74.20
Over 95% of students at Texas Lutheran University receive financial aid and scholarships. High-achieving students are guaranteed at least $20,000 per year in financial aid from the college itself. The undergraduate student body population is 1,445 with a 14:1 student/faculty ratio. Texas Lutheran University is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 19% of the students in attendance are Lutheran. The core values of the university are:
- education
- community
- faith.
- U.S. News Ranking: Regional #4
- 20yr Net Return on Investment: $218,000
- Tuition: $31,850
- Graduation/Transfer Rate: 55%
#9. East Texas Baptist University
Website
Score: 72.75
East Texas Baptist University was founded in the early 1900s. The school is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. ETBU competes in 16 sports in NCAA division III. It has 50+ student organizations and ministries. 99% of students receive financial aid. The school maintains a 14:1 student/faculty ratio. The undergraduate population is 1,471 students.
- U.S. News Ranking: Regional #15
- 20yr Net Return on Investment: $76,100
- Tuition: $27,640
- Graduation/Transfer Rate: 85%
#10. Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Website
Score: 70.48
Southwestern Assemblies of God University is affiliated with the Assemblies of God denomination. It is the only Assemblies of God university in Texas. Students can study:
- Bible and theology
- business
- communication arts
- behavioral sciences
- English
- history
With a student body population of 1,683 undergraduates, SWAGU maintains a 10:1 student/faculty ratio. It is one of the most accessible schools featured in this ranking, accepting 88% of applicants.
- U.S. News Ranking: Regional #95
- 20yr Net Return on Investment: $119,000
- Tuition: $19,834
- Graduation/Transfer Rate: 78%
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes this ranking different from the other college rankings?
Well, for one thing, we create curated school rankings so you don’t have to sift through all the huge databases to find what you want. Then we compare the schools that fit our criteria against each other with a ranking system. The system values:
- prestige
- return on investment
- graduation/transfer rate
- tuition
All key these are components in determining whether or not the school is a great deal. In our state school rankings, the best colleges in the state are determined by rating the colleges against each other only. This means the rankings sometimes spotlight colleges that might get left out of national or global rankings.
Why are all of the colleges in your ranking Christian? Aren’t there any non-Christian small colleges?
Texas, like most of the United States, has a long history of Christianity. Many of the first colleges in Texas were Christian colleges. Many of the small colleges in Texas mentioned here trace their history back into the 1800s. Christians were founding colleges and universities all over the West in this period. While it’s not the case in many states, some states have a high number of quality Christian colleges and universities. Texas happens to be one of these states.
I don’t want to go to a Christian college; any suggestions?
Well, first I would suggest taking a closer look at our #1 ranking here: Austin College. Austin College strives to be:
- diverse
- inclusive
- supportive of all students
There is support for students of all:
- faiths
- sexual orientation
- gender identity
- race
- ethnicity
- disability
The school does provide Christian students with the opportunity to practice their faith on their terms. It also strives to ensure that the needs of students with other beliefs are met. They try to make sure that nobody is excluded for not being a Christian. They also do not to pressure non-Christian students into becoming a Christian when they attend the college. Most of the other colleges featured in this ranking are more conservative. So if those colleges aren’t for you, and you are set on going to one of the small colleges in Texas, you might be able to find what you’re looking for in schools with a slightly higher student body population. Check out colleges in the 2,000-5,000 range. There are plenty of colleges in Texas in this range of population. Some of the best colleges in Texas, like Rice University, can be found in that medium population range.
The colleges may be a good deal, but their tuition still seems somewhat expensive. How do I pay for them?
Well, that’s another advantage of smaller colleges. Often they tend to put much more money into academic and need-based scholarships. So if you have great grades, you are likely to get a lot more financial assistance! However, the FAFSA is arguably the most important component of financial aid for college students. It’s important to apply for FAFSA aid as early in the year as possible, to ensure you get the most aid possible. FAFSA aid comes in the form of grants and both subsidized and unsubsidized student loans. The student loans you get through FAFSA will tend to have much lower interest rates than private student loans. So make sure if you do end up needing loans that you get the FAFSA loans first. Only use private loans to supplement your other financial aid if absolutely necessary.
Finally, third-party scholarships are another great way to cover gaps in your student aid. These can be found through:
- community organizations
- religious organizations
- various foundations
Everyone can apply for general scholarships but they tend to have the stiffest competition. So when looking for private scholarships, try to find hyper-local scholarships. These are scholarships available only to students in your:
- town
- county
- high school
These and specialized scholarships are your best option. These will give you the best chance of scoring the scholarship.
My advice is to start planning your scholarship strategy your junior year of high school. This will make executing it during your senior year of high school easier and less stressful.
Methodology
Each category is weighted as follows.
Tuition: 10%
Graduation Rate: 30%
Return on Investment: 30%
National Ranking: 30%
Regional Ranking: 20%
For the national and regional scoring categories, they can only apply to one school at a time. Regional rankings are scored at ⅔ the value of national rankings. These schools only compete against a smaller pool, limited to schools in their specific region that are not already nationally ranked.
For tuition, the points are awarded according to how much less a given school’s tuition is compared to the most expensive school. This includes the entire pool of schools considered, even if the most expensive school in the pool did not make it into the final ranking.
With this methodology, no school can score 100 because no school has $0 tuition or 100% graduation rate. Once all the schools’ points are calculated, the top school is curved to a score of 100. Then each of the other school’s score is curved up by adding the same percentage of its own score.
Sources:
College ROI: Payscale
U.S. News Rankings: U.S. News and World Report
Tuition and Graduation Rate: National Center for Education Statistics
Related:
- Top 50 Great Deals on Bachelor’s Degrees Online
- 20 Great Scholarships in Texas
- Top 50 Best Colleges in Texas
GCD Staff
October 2022