Best General Studies Programs in Texas (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 23 General Studies programs in Texas by the median earnings of General Studies graduates four years after completing, highest first. The University of Texas at Austin leads the list with median earnings of $73,089 for its General Studies graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, the median figure is $53,626, with a range from $73,089 to $41,358. For 1 of the 23 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 15 of the 23 programs, or 65%, alongside 8 private nonprofit schools. Lamar University posts the lowest average net price on the list, at $9,366.
The University of Texas at Arlington ranks 8th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX | $73,089 | $19,857 | $12,553 | 26.6% |
| The University of Texas at Austin reports $73,089 in median earnings of General Studies graduates four years after completing and ranks 1st on this list, with 253 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 2 | University of St Thomas · Houston, TX | $61,219 | $19,359 | $18,441 | 89.9% |
| A private nonprofit university in Houston, University of St Thomas posts median earnings of $61,219 for its General Studies graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 90%. | |||||
| 3 | University of Houston · Houston, TX | $58,450 | $14,276 | $10,929 | 73.9% |
| University of Houston ranks 3rd on this list and carries a median federal debt of $18,248 among General Studies completers who borrowed, alongside earnings of $58,450 four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | Texas Tech University · Lubbock, TX | $58,375 | $19,070 | $12,457 | 72.7% |
| With an average net price of $19,070, Texas Tech University reports $58,375 in median earnings for its General Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | University of North Texas · Denton, TX | $55,562 | $15,649 | $12,311 | 72.2% |
| University of North Texas ranks 41st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows median earnings of $55,562 for its General Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | The University of Texas at Arlington · Arlington, TX | $54,975 | $13,951 | $11,893 | 79.9% |
| The University of Texas at Arlington admits 80% of applicants and reports $54,975 in median earnings for its General Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | Texas State University · San Marcos, TX | $54,099 | $16,805 | $12,715 | 89.3% |
| Texas State University ranks 7th on this list, with median earnings of $54,099 for its General Studies graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $16,805. | |||||
| 8 | Sam Houston State University · Huntsville, TX | $54,082 | $16,404 | $12,474 | 90.3% |
| Sam Houston State University posts median earnings of $54,082 for its General Studies graduates four years after completing and carries a median federal debt of $23,125 among program completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 9 | Wayland Baptist University · Plainview, TX | $53,900 | $20,590 | $20,070 | 56.0% |
| Wayland Baptist University reports $53,900 in median earnings for its General Studies graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 56%. | |||||
| 10 | Lubbock Christian University · Lubbock, TX | $53,864 | $24,456 | $23,018 | 73.1% |
| Lubbock Christian University ranks 10th on this list, with median earnings of $53,864 for its General Studies graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $24,456. | |||||
| 11 | The University of Texas at San Antonio · San Antonio, TX | $53,652 | $10,836 | $7,870 | 86.8% |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio reports an average net price of $10,836 and median earnings of $53,652 for its General Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 12 | Texas Woman's University · Denton, TX | $53,626 | $11,963 | $9,948 | 96.1% |
| Texas Woman's University ranks 118th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows median earnings of $53,626 for its General Studies graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 13 | Concordia University Texas · Austin, TX | $52,691 | $23,131 | $18,764 | 91.3% |
| Concordia University Texas reports median earnings of $52,691 for its General Studies graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $23,131. | |||||
| 14 | Texas Christian University · Fort Worth, TX | $51,292 | $36,660 | $17,956 | 44.5% |
| Texas Christian University admits 44% of applicants and its General Studies completers who borrowed left with a median federal debt of $20,454. | |||||
| 15 | Lamar University · Beaumont, TX | $50,753 | $9,366 | $7,568 | 86.4% |
| Lamar University ranks 15th on this list and posts an average net price of $9,366, the lowest among the 23 programs. | |||||
| 16 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor · Belton, TX | $50,346 | $26,106 | $22,089 | 95.8% |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor shows median earnings of $50,346 for its General Studies graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 33 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 17 | East Texas A&M University · Commerce, TX | $49,846 | $11,841 | $9,709 | 92.2% |
| East Texas A&M University ranks 185th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $11,841. | |||||
| 18 | West Texas A & M University · Canyon, TX | $49,618 | $19,487 | $16,525 | 98.7% |
| West Texas A & M University admits 99% of applicants and its General Studies graduates earn a median of $49,618 four years after completing. | |||||
| 19 | Nelson University · Waxahachie, TX | $47,277 | $21,662 | $17,583 | 89.0% |
| Nelson University reports median earnings of $47,277 for its General Studies graduates four years after completing, with a median federal debt of $25,000 among General Studies completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 20 | Texas Southern University · Houston, TX | $44,953 | $16,590 | $16,437 | 96.9% |
| Texas Southern University ranks 20th on this list, with a median federal debt of $31,152 among General Studies completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 21 | Tarleton State University · Stephenville, TX | $44,106 | $20,783 | $15,574 | 89.6% |
| Tarleton State University shows an average net price of $20,783 and its General Studies graduates earn a median of $44,106 four years after completing. | |||||
| 22 | Southern Methodist University · Dallas, TX | $43,128 | $40,892 | $23,544 | 63.4% |
| Southern Methodist University reports median earnings of $43,128 for its General Studies graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $40,892. | |||||
| 23 | Texas A&M University-Texarkana · Texarkana, TX | $41,358 | $12,997 | $11,002 | 63.5% |
| Texas A&M University-Texarkana ranks 23rd on this list, with a median federal debt of $18,197 among General Studies completers who borrowed. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their General Studies graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in Texas appear. The figures come from federally aided completers of the General Studies program who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 1 of the 23 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The University of Texas at Austin leads University of St Thomas by $11,870, and the spread from the top to the bottom of the list is $31,731.
Related rankings
- General Studies Programs in Alabama
- General Studies Programs in Arkansas
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