Ranking
Most Selective Colleges in Texas by Acceptance Rate 2026
The hardest Texas colleges to get into — ranked by lowest undergraduate acceptance.
- Schools ranked
- 25
- Cheapest net price
- $3,637
- Top earnings 10y
- $89,718
- Public / Private
- 5 / 20
Rice University
A+- Acceptance
- 8%
- Net price
- $13,370
- Earnings 10y
- $89,718
- Acceptance
- 8%
Dallas Christian College
D- Acceptance
- 21.8%
- Net price
- $22,960
- Earnings 10y
- $43,503
- Acceptance
- 21.8%
Trinity University
B- Acceptance
- 25.9%
- Net price
- $23,464
- Earnings 10y
- $71,668
- Acceptance
- 25.9%
The University of Texas at Austin
B- Acceptance
- 26.6%
- Net price
- $19,857
- Earnings 10y
- $75,121
- Acceptance
- 26.6%
Messenger College
D- Acceptance
- 37.5%
- Net price
- $26,433
- Earnings 10y
- $29,463
- Acceptance
- 37.5%
LeTourneau University
D- Acceptance
- 38%
- Net price
- $28,185
- Earnings 10y
- $57,103
- Acceptance
- 38%
Huston-Tillotson University
C- Acceptance
- 39.1%
- Net price
- $19,719
- Earnings 10y
- $42,937
- Acceptance
- 39.1%
Paul Quinn College
C- Acceptance
- 40.3%
- Net price
- $12,709
- Earnings 10y
- $29,288
- Acceptance
- 40.3%
Southwestern University
D- Acceptance
- 43.1%
- Net price
- $29,224
- Earnings 10y
- $56,878
- Acceptance
- 43.1%
Texas A & M International University
A+- Acceptance
- 44.4%
- Net price
- $3,637
- Earnings 10y
- $48,386
- Acceptance
- 44.4%
Texas Christian University
D- Acceptance
- 44.5%
- Net price
- $36,660
- Earnings 10y
- $68,424
- Acceptance
- 44.5%
Austin College
C- Acceptance
- 47.7%
- Net price
- $21,107
- Earnings 10y
- $61,296
- Acceptance
- 47.7%
Baylor University
D- Acceptance
- 51.3%
- Net price
- $41,104
- Earnings 10y
- $65,793
- Acceptance
- 51.3%
Hallmark University
B- Acceptance
- 51.3%
- Net price
- $12,513
- Earnings 10y
- $40,183
- Acceptance
- 51.3%
University of Dallas
C- Acceptance
- 53.4%
- Net price
- $22,610
- Earnings 10y
- $58,285
- Acceptance
- 53.4%
Wayland Baptist University
C- Acceptance
- 56%
- Net price
- $20,590
- Earnings 10y
- $51,838
- Acceptance
- 56%
McMurry University
C- Acceptance
- 57%
- Net price
- $19,581
- Earnings 10y
- $48,779
- Acceptance
- 57%
Texas A&M University-College Station
B- Acceptance
- 57.4%
- Net price
- $21,315
- Earnings 10y
- $72,097
- Acceptance
- 57.4%
East Texas Baptist University
C- Acceptance
- 57.8%
- Net price
- $23,911
- Earnings 10y
- $52,788
- Acceptance
- 57.8%
The King's University
C- Acceptance
- 60.6%
- Net price
- $14,140
- Earnings 10y
- $41,471
- Acceptance
- 60.6%
Southern Methodist University
D- Acceptance
- 63.4%
- Net price
- $40,892
- Earnings 10y
- $78,354
- Acceptance
- 63.4%
Texas A&M University-Texarkana
B- Acceptance
- 63.5%
- Net price
- $12,997
- Earnings 10y
- $45,515
- Acceptance
- 63.5%
The University of Texas at Dallas
B- Acceptance
- 65.1%
- Net price
- $18,267
- Earnings 10y
- $68,227
- Acceptance
- 65.1%
Abilene Christian University
D- Acceptance
- 66%
- Net price
- $26,182
- Earnings 10y
- $55,736
- Acceptance
- 66%
Howard Payne University
D- Acceptance
- 67.4%
- Net price
- $23,627
- Earnings 10y
- $48,376
- Acceptance
- 67.4%
How we picked this list
This list starts with Texas colleges that report a standard admission rate, then sorts by acceptance rate. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 7.73 (5 public, 20 private).
Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.
FAQ
Who leads this ranking?
Rice University in Houston, TX tops this ranking. Acceptance rate is 8%.
How does EduGradify pick this list?
We rank this set by acceptance using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.
How many Texas colleges are in this list?
72 Texas colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.
What does net price mean here?
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.