10 Colleges in Texas With High Acceptance Rates 2026

You can find many colleges in Texas with high acceptance rates if you know where to look. Of course, most universities don't publish a specific acceptance rate, but it's possible to get a rough idea of how many students each one accepts. Check out our list of solid options for residents of the Lone Star State.

Are There Good Universities With High Acceptance Rates in Texas?

Yes, there are plenty of colleges in the South with high acceptance rates, including Texas. Although the concept of ''good'' university is subjective, we can show you several accredited Texas institutions with at least a 70% acceptance rate. These schools offer many undergraduate majors and admit a majority of applicants.

What Is Considered a High Acceptance Rate for Colleges in Texas?

We consider a high acceptance rate to be anything over 70%. Granted, some colleges have ''self-selective'' applicant pools, meaning that only top students apply for admission. This means the acceptance rate isn't a perfect measure of admissions difficulty, but it helps you get a decent idea.

What Are the Easiest Colleges to Get Into in Texas?

There are three colleges with high acceptance rates in Texas. They are among the easiest for freshman admission anywhere across the state.

• University of Mary Hardin-Baylor: About a 99% acceptance rate
• Texas A&M University-San Antonio: About a 99% acceptance rate
• University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP): About a 97% acceptance rate

Best Colleges in Texas With the Highest Acceptance Rates

This is a list of 10 high acceptance rate colleges in Texas. These rankings include information about degree programs and enrollment, along with tuition costs and accreditation statuses.

1. University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is the oldest school within the University of Texas public school system. It offers a very flexible admissions process for undergraduates.

UTEP maintains over 20,000 undergraduate students and about 4,000 graduate students. UTEP ranks 280th nationally, according to Forbes, thanks to its nine colleges offering degrees in over 70 disciplines.

• Acceptance rate: About 97%
• Estimated tuition cost: $9,744 per year
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

2. Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Texas A&M University-San Antonio is a relatively new university, established in 2019 in the seventh-largest city in the U.S. This public college serves almost 7,000 undergraduate students with 30 majors and a professor-to-student ratio of 18:1.

The admissions process is pretty straightforward, with most students submitting SAT scores within a range of 850 to 1070.

• Acceptance rate: About 99%
• Estimated tuition cost: $13,240 per year
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

3. University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor has been around since 1845, the same year Texas became a state. Its open admissions process allows almost universal acceptance, provided you complete the application process correctly.

This university, originally the female wing of Baylor University, has about 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students with 13 bachelor's degrees, several master's programs, and two doctoral programs.

• Acceptance rate: About 99%
• Estimated tuition cost: $13,000 per year
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

4. Angelo State University

Angelo State University is a public university and part of the Texas Tech school system. It receives high marks for its nursing programs, but also admits almost 80% of applicants for general admission.

The campus features several modern facilities, such as the Houston Harte University Center and the Mayer Museum dedicated to natural sciences.

• Acceptance rate: About 79%
• Estimated tuition cost: $7,508.90 per year
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

5. Concordia University Texas

Concordia University Texas is a private institution but still offers tuition rates competitive with the state's public colleges. This Lutheran-affiliated school, located in Austin, TX, has a small student body of about 2,500, with almost as many graduate students as undergraduates.

The university does not set a specific cutoff for academic performance, but applicants with a 3.0 GPA should stand a solid chance of acceptance.

• Acceptance rate: About 86%
• Estimated tuition cost: $550 per credit hour
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

6. Dallas Baptist University

Dallas Baptist University was originally Decatur Baptist College, founded in 1898. Despite its small enrollment size, this university offers plenty of degree programs in disciplines like business, fine arts, humanities, social sciences, and religious ministry.

The average weighted GPA for incoming freshmen is about 3.5, but applicants still enjoy a high 91% chance of acceptance.

• Acceptance rate: About 91%
• Estimated tuition cost: $1,217 per credit hour
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

7. Hardin-Simmons University

Hardin-Simmons University is a Baptist college in Abilene, TX, with higher tuition rates but an 88% acceptance rate. Prospective students should check out the school's scholarship website, which lists six lucrative scholarships, ranging between $14,000 and $25,000 per year.

It offers degree programs in almost every major field, including political science, theatre, computer science, cybersecurity, and forensic studies.

• Acceptance rate: About 88%
• Estimated tuition cost: $32,960 per year
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

8. Houston Baptist University

Houston Baptist University is home to about 4,000 undergraduates in the state's largest city. Average SAT scores range from 970 to 1200, but its admissions page says it's a ''test optional'' school. Most incoming applicants should receive acceptance with a decent SAT score or by demonstrating academic progress in their final two years of high school.

• Acceptance rate: About 84%
• Estimated tuition cost: $595 per semester hour
• Accreditation: SACSOOC

9. Jarvis Christian University

Jarvis Christian University is a historically Black college in Hawkins, TX. It has a scenic 1,000-acre campus for a small student body of about 800.

The school accepts incoming freshmen, transfer students, and international students to its on-campus and online degree programs. Most students major in business, the humanities, arts, social sciences, or natural sciences.

• Acceptance rate: About 100%
• Estimated tuition cost: $433 per credit hour
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

10. Midwestern State University

Midwestern State University is a public liberal arts institution with about 4,000 undergraduate students in Wichita Falls, TX. It proudly features its Dalquest Desert Research Station for geological research near Big Bend Ranch State Park. Although there is a minimum weighted GPA of 3.0 required for admission, the school still accepts over 90% of applicants.

• Acceptance rate: About 92%
• Estimated tuition cost: $9,776 per year
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

Admissions Requirements for Colleges With High Acceptance Rates in Texas

To boost your chances of admission, consider applying to Texas colleges with high acceptance rates. It also helps to know the most common admissions requirements.

• High school diploma: Even most of the automatic admissions colleges will only accept applicants who have completed high school or earned a GED.
• GPA: Aim for a decent grade point average, no less than 2.0.
• Standardized test scores: Some schools still require applicants to submit SAT/ACT scores and meet a certain threshold.
• Recommendations: It helps to get strong recommendation letters from your teachers or employers.

FAQs About Colleges in Texas With High Acceptance Rates

Check out these frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the highest acceptance rate colleges in Texas. These four questions may address your concerns about college difficulty and open-admissions schools.

Are There Open Admissions Colleges in Texas?

Yes, there are a few universities that effectively offer open admissions to all applicants in Texas. All the schools with acceptance rates close to 100% take this approach, including UTEP, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, and Jarvis Christian University.

What Are the Hardest Colleges To Get Into in Texas?

The most difficult institution to get into is Rice University, which has a 9% acceptance rate, similar to most of the Ivy League universities. There are other tough colleges for acceptance, such as the University of Texas - Austin and Trinity University. Both accept only 31% of applicants.

What College Is Easiest To Get Into in Texas?

There are several easy colleges to get into in Texas. The highest acceptance rate is at Jarvis Christian University, which has an open admissions process and enrolls 100% of applicants. Every other school on our rankings list admits at least 79% of applicants.

Which Colleges in Texas Have a 100% Acceptance Rate?

You may have a 100% chance of admission at most Texas community and technical colleges. Jarvis Christian University admits 100% of prospective students, whereas several others admit practically all applicants as well.

Explore Colleges in Texas

Visit Learn.org to find affordable colleges with reasonable admissions policies anywhere in the country. Our articles help you find the most suitable college to earn an undergraduate or graduate education.