Best Online Colleges in Texas 2024
The best online colleges in Texas make education accessible from anywhere and give you the resources to balance your education with your home life.
Parker University, Texas Tech University, and LeTourneau University took the top spots for high-quality online education programs. We ranked the best online colleges in Texas based on admission and graduation rates, percentage of students given financial aid, number of programs, student-to-faculty ratio, and student resources.
Our guide can help you discover which Texas online college is best for you.
Featured Online College Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
The 5 Best Online Colleges in Texas
- In-State$23,760
- Out-of-state$23,760
- In-State$13,320
- Out-of-state$13,320
- Retention Rate83%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled1,954
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment31%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$8,934
- Out-of-state$21,174
- In-State$6,956
- Out-of-state$15,136
- Retention Rate86%
- Acceptance Rate67%
- Students Enrolled40,752
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment68%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$32,690
- Out-of-state$32,690
- In-State$16,875
- Out-of-state$16,875
- Retention Rate76%
- Acceptance Rate49%
- Students Enrolled3,580
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment63%
- AccreditationYes
Sam Houston State University
- Huntsville, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,856
- Out-of-state$15,648
- In-State$5,765
- Out-of-state$13,108
- Retention Rate73%
- Acceptance Rate97%
- Students Enrolled21,612
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment65%
- AccreditationYes
University of the Incarnate Word
- San Antonio, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$31,800
- Out-of-state$31,800
- In-State$18,540
- Out-of-state$18,540
- Retention Rate70%
- Acceptance Rate93%
- Students Enrolled7,261
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment54%
- AccreditationYes
No. 1 Program: Parker University
Parker University wins the top spot because it is the most affordable university of our top picks and has the smallest student-to-faculty ratio.
A few schools offer marginally better financial aid rates (greater than 93%), but Parker’s low cost, 100% admission rate, and a close-knit student-to-faculty ratio of 9-to-1 are hard to beat.
Parker has 11 fully online undergraduate programs, most of which are focused on health. Some popular options include health care management, anatomy, nutrition science, sports psychology, and radiology-centered programs like computed tomography.
An online program may take about the same amount of time as an on-campus course with hard deadlines and live lectures.
Even with Parker’s online programs, you have access to similar student resources you would have on campus, such as online tutoring, career services, counseling, and disability services.
No. 2 Program: Texas Tech University
This public state university comes in second on our list for having one of the largest portfolios of programs, with 150+ undergraduate programs and over 350 master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs.
In Texas Tech’s online programs, you’ll learn from the same prestigious faculty that on-campus students do — the university employs the same faculty who teach on-campus to teach online.
The university told BestColleges its high online retention rates (63%) are due to extensive student support services, an engaging and interactive learning environment, flexible and accessible program design, and regular feedback and communication from instructors and advisors.
Texas Tech offers one of the most expansive opportunities for online learners, even giving you a chance to study abroad. The university also offers counseling services, a writing center, an online library, a career center, and a military and veterans program (MVP) to ensure a smooth transition to college. MVP also provides one-on-one support and unique graduation regalia.
At Texas Tech University, we believe that every student deserves a personalized learning experience,
the university told BestColleges. This comprehensive support system helps online students stay engaged, manage their responsibilities, and succeed academically.
Why Texas Tech University Ranked Second
While Tech offers a wide array of programs, it’s not as accessible as Parker University and does not have as high of a retention rate (63% vs. 73%). And while Parker guarantees every student a spot, Texas Tech has a 68% acceptance rate.
Texas Tech is about $6,500 more expensive than Parker and has more than double the student-to-faculty ratio.
However, if you prefer a broader selection of programs, want to study abroad, and don’t mind a larger public university, consider Texas Tech.
No. 3 Program: LeTourneau University
If you’re looking for a school that allows you to work on your own schedule, LeTourneau University may be for you. The university will enable you to finish most online courses in about seven weeks. You can take your time to attend courses and complete assignments or work at a faster pace.
LETU is a Polytechnic Christian University and offers 10+ undergraduate degrees, including business administration, theology and Christian ministry, computer science, aviation, and education.
While LETU may be the most expensive, with an average net price of $23,991, and the most exclusive of our top choices, you’re almost guaranteed financial aid. The university offers nearly all students (99%) financial assistance.
How We Rank Schools
To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.
Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Colleges
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 74 Texas colleges offer online programs.
If one college doesn’t fit your needs, plenty of Texas colleges offer programs to suit you. Some offer flexible online programs that allow you to work on your schedule, some offer synchronous lectures, and others provide hybrid on-campus and online classes.
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