Largest Colleges and Universities in Texas

3. University of Houston

The largest university in Houston, this public research institution is home to almost 50,000 students enrolled in over 277 degree programs. About one-fifth of the school’s undergraduate population lives on campus, which houses 165 different buildings over almost 900 acres across four locations.

The school is well-represented in college sports, with 17 NCAA team titles and 68 NCAA individual championships to its name. The Houston Cougars have also appeared in 30 football bowls and 163 conference championships.

The University of Houston became Texas’ first designated Hispanic-Serving Institution in 2012.

4. University of North Texas

Prospective students at the University of North Texas can select from 112 bachelor's, 94 master's, and 38 doctoral programs offered from within 14 distinct schools and colleges. Almost 40% of undergraduates in 2022 were first-generation college students. In 2020, the school became recognized as an official Hispanic-Serving Institution.

UNT is located in Denton, one of the best college towns in Texas on the outskirts of the sprawling Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. In addition to attending Denton’s annual rodeo and Day of the Dead festival, students can also have a night out at one of the school’s numerous cultural events. UNT hosts over 1,000 events each year spotlighting art, music, theater, and dance.

5. University of Texas at Arlington

The University of Texas at Arlington is located at the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. The 420-acre campus and surrounding area are home to over 10,000 students. Almost three-fifths of UTA’s alumni population also still reside in North Texas, making for a strong local alumni network.

Since 2014, UTA has been a Hispanic-Serving Institution. UTA’s diverse student body also includes over 6,000 international students from 100 countries. Nontraditional students may find a good fit here as almost two-thirds of undergraduates enrolled at UTA are over 23 years old.

6. Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University is a public research university in Lubbock. It offers more than 150 degree programs and serves over 40,000 students. The school still maintains an average 21-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio with its more than 1,900 faculty. Texas Tech is a Hispanic-Serving Institution with Hispanic and Latino/a students making up almost 30% of its 2022 undergraduate population.

Texas Tech is also big-league when it comes to college ball — as part of the Big 12 conference, the Red Raiders have appeared in 40 bowl games and have won 11 conference championships.^[3]

7. Texas State University

Texas State University is a federally designated Hispanic Serving-Institution offering 99 bachelor’s programs, 92 master’s programs, and 14 doctoral programs.

The school’s main campus is located in San Marcos, which lies conveniently between Austin and San Antonio. The nearly 7,000 students who live on the 500-acre San Marcos campus are just a short drive or bus ride away from Austin’s famous music scene or the stately Spanish missions of San Antonio.

Presidential hopefuls take note: Texas State University is the only Texas university to graduate a U.S. president — Lyndon B. Johnson.

8. University of Texas at San Antonio

The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic-Serving Institution, has an undergraduate student body that is made up of 58% Hispanic students. UTSA also enrolls 43% first-generation college students. Almost all (95%) of UTSA’s students are from Texas.

In addition to the school’s 600-acre main campus, the university also maintains four other smaller campuses in the greater San Antonio area. Across all its campuses, the university supports 30 research centers and institutes.

9. University of Texas at Dallas

The University of Texas at Dallas offers close to 150 degree programs to its 30,000-plus student body. The school reports that two-thirds (66%) of its graduating students leave their programs debt-free, compared to just around half (48%) of students Texas-wide and one-third (32%) of students nationwide.

In addition to affordability, prospective students might be drawn to the institution’s bicycle-friendly campus, weird mascot (Temoc, an anthropomorphized comet), and top-tier chess team, which has made it to the Final Four Collegiate Chess Tournament 18 times.

10. University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley

Students enrolled at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley can choose from more than 160 programs housed within 10 separate colleges and three distinct schools. UTRGV also provides more flexible options with over 20 online programs, over 40 accelerated programs, close to 750 hybrid course sections, and almost 2,000 online course sections.

The southernmost school in the University of Texas system, the institution is located close to the U.S.-Mexico border. As of fall 2022, 94% of this Hispanic-Serving Institution's undergraduate population was Hispanic and Latino/a.