Best colleges in Houston

Everything's Bigger in Texas

Even the number of school options

Surprisingly enough, Houston, Texas is more equipped than you think when it comes to employment, affordable living, and higher education. There are a total of 75 post-secondary schools, which include 14 major institutions offering well over 400 programs. Now that is a lot of schooling. So, whatever career you are thinking about pursuing can most likely be achieved right here in Houston. But let's not stop there. of all state-university graduates, 80.5% of alumni live and work within the region for at least a few years. Why? Because Houston is home to 26 Fortune 500 companies. It's the 4th most populous city in the United States with over 2.2 million people. And, it's ranked number 1 for best cities for manufacturing jobs and number 3 for cities creating the most technology jobs. The unemployment rate of 5.4% is less than the US average, and the average weekly salary of $1,247 is more than the US average. Impressive stats for a city with rocket ship problems.

Besides the top notch education prospects, Houston is also known for its energy sources, tasty cuisines, exciting rodeos, manufacturing, and of course, aeronautics. In your spare time, you can visit the Theatre District, the Sundance Cinema, Sam Houston Race Park, the Downtown Aquarium, or Space Center Houston. and don't miss out on the Houston Livestock Show and Radio, the world's largest livestock show. Whatever piques your interest in or out of the classroom, you can find it here. Houston, we have no problems moving here and never looking back.

Click Here to See the Best Colleges in the US*www.governor.state.tx.us* Forbes, "Houston, TX"*Bureau of Labor Statistics*Wikipedia, "Houston, TX"

Best Four Year Universities in Houston

Rice University
Houston, TX

Rice University is a private institution in Houston, Texas that has a total undergraduate enrollment of about 7,000 students. The university has a 300-acre campus that abuts the Houston Zoo and Texas Medical Center. Students take classes that follow a semester-based academic calendar, and the university provides merit and need-based scholarships to most students. 

Rice has a rich academic history including the Cao Center for Asian Studies, the Boniuk Institute, and the Ken Kennedy Institute of Information Technology. Students at Rice can explore Houston’s Museum District, walk along Hermann Park, and take advantage of Houston’s METRORail system which is just across from the main campus. 

Many students benefit from Rice’s small classes and 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The university also provides students with over 360 undergraduate and graduate degree options in over 60 academic departments. Outside of the classroom, students interested in media and journalism can participate in a variety of student-led organizations like The Rice Thresher, The Campanile, and KTRU Rice Radio. Notable alumni include pilot Howard Hughes, writer Joyce Carol Oates, and American investor John Doerr.

University of Houston
Houston, TX

Founded in 1927, the University of Houston is a public institution with a total undergraduate enrollment of roughly 45,000. The school has expanded since its inception and now provides a range of programs through its 14 academic colleges. The University of Houston tuition and fees for in-state students are about half the cost of those for out-of-state students, and the school offers many merit and need-based scholarships for applicants that fulfill scholarship criteria. Students that attend the University of Houston have access to a variety of student organizations and networking opportunities, athletic teams, and four on-campus libraries. 

The university is in an urban setting with a dense campus that covers over 650 acres with classes that follow a semester-based academic calendar. The current student-faculty ratio at the University of Houston is 23:1, which is typical for a large, flagship state university.

Located in Houston, The University of Houston campus is split up into districts that separate schools and department-specific libraries. Notable alumni include actor Dennis Quaid, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, and rappers Lil Wayne, Master P, and Chamillionaire.

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Prairie View A & M University offers 66 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a faraway town. In 2022, 1,721 students graduated with students earning 1,421 Bachelor's degrees, 279 Master's degrees, and 21 Doctoral degrees.

University of Houston-Clear Lake offers 89 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 2,357 students graduated with students earning 1,517 Bachelor's degrees, 813 Master's degrees, and 27 Doctoral degrees.

University of St Thomas offers 114 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 983 students graduated with students earning 517 Bachelor's degrees, 418 Master's degrees, and 48 Doctoral degrees.

Chamberlain University-Texas offers 1 degree programs. It's a small, private for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 372 students graduated with students earning 372 Bachelor's degrees.

Houston Baptist University offers 151 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 976 students graduated with students earning 554 Bachelor's degrees, 389 Master's degrees, 30 Doctoral degrees, and 3 Certificates.

College of Biblical Studies-Houston offers 8 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 28 students graduated with students earning 24 Bachelor's degrees, and 4 Associate's degrees.

University of Houston-Downtown offers 78 degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 4,212 students graduated with students earning 3,263 Bachelor's degrees, 546 Master's degrees, and 403 Certificates.

Texas Southern University offers 80 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 1,460 students graduated with students earning 914 Bachelor's degrees, 279 Doctoral degrees, and 267 Master's degrees.

Best Community Colleges in Houston

Houston International College Cardiotech Ultrasound School offers 2 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 12 students graduated with students earning 8 Associate's degrees, and 4 Certificates.

School of Automotive Machinists & Technology offers 5 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 87 students graduated with students earning 82 Certificates, and 5 Associate's degrees.

Vet Tech Institute of Houston offers 1 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 125 students graduated with students earning 125 Associate's degrees.

MediaTech Institute-Houston offers 5 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 33 students graduated with students earning 32 Associate's degrees, and 1 Certificate.

Fortis Institute
Houston, TX

Fortis Institute offers 7 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 188 students graduated with students earning 175 Certificates, and 13 Associate's degrees.

The College of Health Care Professions-Southwest Houston offers 6 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 397 students graduated with students earning 385 Certificates, and 12 Associate's degrees.

Center for Advanced Legal Studies offers 4 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 41 students graduated with students earning 41 Associate's degrees.

Culinary Institute Inc offers 5 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 108 students graduated with students earning 68 Associate's degrees, and 40 Certificates.

Interactive College of Technology offers 10 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 14 students graduated with students earning 9 Certificates, and 5 Associate's degrees.

Pima Medical Institute-Houston offers 14 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 473 students graduated with students earning 274 Certificates, and 199 Associate's degrees.

List of all colleges in Houston

School Average Tuition Student Teacher Ratio Enrolled Students
Rice University Logo Rice University Houston, TX
5/5
12 : 1 8,672
University of Houston Logo University of Houston Houston, TX
3/5
31 : 1 46,700
Houston International College Cardiotech Ultrasound School Logo Houston International College Cardiotech Ultrasound School Houston, TX
3/5
5 : 1 41
School of Automotive Machinists & Technology Logo School of Automotive Machinists & Technology Houston, TX   18 : 1 125
Vet Tech Institute of Houston Logo Vet Tech Institute of Houston Houston, TX
4/5
25 : 1 175