10 Best Colleges and Universities Near Austin, TX

In addition to being the state capital of Texas, Austin is home to many excellent universities. At the heart of the city you'll find the sprawling University of Texas campus. You might be surprised at how many other universities and colleges are in or near Austin, TX, as well.

Whichever college you choose, you are sure to be delighted by this lively city, known for its live music scene, its festivals, such as SXSW, its racial and ethnic diversity, its outdoor recreation, its dining scene, and as the long-time center of counterculture in otherwise conservative Texas.

Featured Colleges in Austin, TX

1. Austin Community College

The Austin Community College System provides a gateway to higher education for students in the central Texas region, serving about 41,000 students at any given time who are enrolled in courses, certificate, diploma, associate, and baccalaureate degree programs.

Academically, ACC offers more than 100 programs in ten areas of study, which include:

• arts, digital media & communications
• business
• computer science & information technology
• culinary, hospitality & tourism
• design, manufacturing, construction & applied technologies
• education
• health sciences
• liberal arts
• public & social services
• science, engineering & math

Tuition and fees per year are approximately $2,600 for in-district, $8,600 for in-state, and $10,600 for out-of-state students.

2. Concordia University Texas

The private Lutheran university, Concordia, while small with only 1,600 undergraduate students, offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Academic year tuition and fees (before aid) come to $35,620. However, 98% of students receive financial aid averaging $24,594.

The two most popular academic programs are nursing and business administration. Concordia offers both on-campus and distance education and also has programs for ROTC (Army, Air Force), study abroad, and teacher certification.

Concordia's retention rate from first to second year is 68%, and its six-year graduation rate is 39%.

3. Huston-Tillotson University

Austin's Historically Black College or University (HBCU), Huston-Tillotson University, is a small, private, not-for-profit school offering associate and bachelor's degrees. It serves about 1,000 undergraduate students each year, of whom 55% are African American.

Tuition and fees total $14,703 per year. Eligible students may receive federal financial aid such as Pell Grants and federally subsidized loans. 100% of students receive financial aid, averaging $4,458.

The most popular majors are business administration, teacher education, psychology, exercise science/kinesiology, and criminal justice (law enforcement).

The university offers undergraduate distance education as well as having ROTC (Army, Navy, Air Force) and study abroad programs, plus teacher certification.

Concordia's retention rate from first to second year is 69%, and its six-year graduation rate is 32%.

4. St. Edward's University

Offering bachelor's and graduate degrees, the private, Catholic St. Edward's University is home to about 2,800 undergraduate students each year, of whom more than half are Hispanic/Latino.

Tuition and fees at St. Edward's University come to $50,766 per year. However, 99% of its students receive financial aid packages averaging $38,787.

Most popular majors include business administration (including marketing, finance, and accounting); biology and neurobiology; communication and digital media; psychology; exercise science and kinesiology; and political science and government.

St. Edward's exceptionally high retention rate from first to second year is 81%, and its six-year graduation rate is 65%.

5. Texas Health and Science University

Texas Health and Science University is a very small private, for-profit institution offering bachelor's and master's degrees. Total enrollment is less than 100 students, of whom 44% are of Asian ethnicity and 80% are women. Only 23 of those are undergraduates.

THSU hires only six full-time faculty and 12 part-time. This school offers no on-campus housing. Tuition and fees are $19,500, and students are eligible for federal financial aid. 39% of the students receive aid, which averages $14,336.

Degrees offered include business, management, marketing, and related support services; acupuncture and oriental medicine; and alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems.

THSU is accredited only by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine.

6. The University of Texas at Austin

With a student body of more than 52,000 students (including graduate schools), UT-Austin is by far the city's dominant university as well as being Texas's foremost school. Everyone knows about Longhorn Nation and the huge land-grant university that makes Austin so distinctive.

You can major in almost any academic subject at UT, with a world-class faculty (of almost 3,000) as your professors and a top-notch curriculum and support services such as libraries and student services. The university offers online courses, ROTC, and study abroad programs.

The UT community is international and has a racial and ethnic diversity of white, Latino, and Asian students, although the Black population of Texas is underrepresented at only 4.5% of the student body.

Annual tuition and fees are $11,700 for Texas residents and $41,000 for nonresidents. First-year students receive financial aid at a rate of 89%, at an average award of $8,321, and 93% of students are enrolled full time.

UT-Austin has an extraordinarily high retention rate from first to second year is 95%, and its six-year graduation rate is a stunning 88%.

Other Colleges near Austin, TX

South University - Austin (Round Rock)

The central Texas campus of South University (a private, for-profit, multi-state university system) enrolls about 300 students at its Round Rock campus north of Austin, which is not a residential campus. It offers online and on-campus courses.

At South University - Austin, 83% of the students are women, and the racial/ethnic demographics are evenly split between Latino, Black, and white. The majority of students are in the nursing program.

This school purports to offer associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. The university only employs nine full-time faculty and 27 part-time, which can be a red flag. Another warning signal is that the retention rate from first to second year is 50%, and the six-year graduation rate is a shockingly low 4%.

Tuition and fees are $17,000 per year. Nine out of ten students receive financial aid, at an average award of $6,682 per year.

Southwestern University (Georgetown)

Southwestern University is a long-established private (nonprofit), residential liberal arts college located in Georgetown, TX, which is north of Austin. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It offers some online courses as well as study abroad programs.

Offering only bachelor's degrees, this small university has a student body of about 1,500 students, 56% of whom are white and 27% Latino. With a healthy balance of 123 full-time and 25 part-time faculty, students are sure to study with well-qualified professors.

Tuition and fees for a year are $48,650; however, 99% of students receive financial aid, with an average award of $30,609 per student. Southwestern has a high retention rate from first to second year is 78%, and its six-year graduation rate is a respectful 72%.

Texas State University (San Marcos)

Second in size only to the University of Texas at Austin, and located 30 miles south of Austin in San Marcos, Texas State University serves almost 40,000 students each year. The ethnic distribution is 40% white, 42% Latino, and 9% African American.

Tuition and fees for a year are $11,135 for Texas residents and $22,559 for nonresidents. 83% of students receive financial aid, averaging $11,791 per student. Retention and graduation rates are 80% and 56%, respectively.

The most popular majors are;

• business administration, accounting, finance, or marketing
• biology
• communication, public relations, and advertising
• computer science
• teacher education
• engineering
• criminal justice
• psychology
• exercise science and kinesiology

What Is the Biggest School Near Austin, TX?

The largest school in the Austin area is The University of Texas at Austin, followed closely by Texas State University in San Marcos.

How To Choose the Right College Near Austin, TX

Choosing the right college near Austin, TX, becomes a matter of which school you find most appealing at a number of levels.

If you're looking for a residential campus, you'll be drawn to schools with beautiful campuses like UT-Austin or Southwestern University.

Perhaps you are seeking a particular subject as a major degree program or an online program delivery.

The campus culture can also make you feel drawn to a particular school, so visiting and meeting other students can make a difference.

Paying for Your Degree Near Austin, TX

As you can see from the descriptions above, the vast majority of students receive significant financial aid at almost every university, so don't avoid applying because of a school's 'sticker price.' Be sure to apply for financial aid using the FAFSA form.

Start Your Degree Near Austin, TX, Today

Austin is a delightful city that provides students at a variety of colleges near Austin, TX, with many opportunities for learning, personal growth, and an enjoyable lifestyle.