The Best Colleges in Texas in 2021

UIW's School of Professional Studies features online undergraduate and graduate degrees for working students. Bachelor's programs include applied arts and sciences, criminal justice, and leadership studies. The 100% online master of business administration degree features concentrations such as data analytics, human resources, and asset management.

Online degree-seekers benefit from all UIW career services, such as career advisors, a four-year career guide, and major exploration guides. The university employs advisors who work solely with military veterans transitioning back to civilian life. Virtual resources for students include the O*NET interest profiler and the Focus 2 Career assessment.

Admission requirements mirror those of the other best online schools in Texas, such as meeting a high school or undergraduate GPA cutoff and submitting official transcripts. UIW's generous transfer credit policy allows some students to earn a bachelor's degree in just three semesters. Undergraduate and graduate learners who enroll full or part time qualify for federal financial aid opportunities.

St. Mary's resembles other online colleges in Texas with online graduate degrees and certificates offered in an asynchronous format. Master's degree-seekers select from three options: international relations, theology, and software engineering. The theology program requires learners to attend one seminar on the university's San Antonio campus.

St. Mary's career advisors offer online and on-campus learners six software suites that promote career success, including Handshake, Resume Target, and PathwayU. The university's personalized career services feature resume critiques and mock interviews. Advisors also introduce students to top local companies that hire St. Mary's graduates, such as SWBC and Liberty Mutual.

Prospective students attend a virtual information session to learn more about admission requirements and deadlines. Typical application materials include recommendation letters and a personal statement. St. Mary's considers all incoming graduate degree-seekers for institutional aid, and financial aid advisors help learners apply for federal grants and loans.

A Christian university in Abilene, ACU offers numerous online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs that emphasize in-demand skills. Bachelor's degrees include communication disorders, information technology, and health and human performance. Many graduate degree-seekers planning for a career as a minister or pastor earn a master's in conflict management for church leaders or Christian ministry.

ACU students consult the career center blog to learn about services, upcoming events, and Handshake. Career advisors support online learners by giving them free access to Optimal Resume and CareerExplorer software. The university's annual Career Guide also features job-hunting tips.

Although admission requirements vary by program, all students submit official high school or undergraduate transcripts. A low tuition rate makes ACU one of the most affordable online colleges in Texas. Students further reduce their tuition burden by signing up for a tuition payment plan and applying for federal grants and loans.

Texas Tech's online and distance programs appeal to students who need a degree or certificate for professional advancement. Fully online bachelor's degrees include applied leadership, early childhood education, and human sciences. Texas Tech also features many unique master's degrees, such as plant and social science, environmental sustainability, and agricultural communications.

Texas Tech career center resources help students and alumni explore their interests, choose the right major, and develop a compelling resume and cover letter. Career center advisors post in-depth information about preparing for a 30-60-minute counseling session, such as developing questions in advance and bringing relevant documentation.

Unlike other online colleges in Texas that post specific admission information, Texas Tech recommends that prospective students contact a program advisor to learn the latest application requirements and deadlines. The university also stands apart from other public institutions by charging out-of-state students a competitive tuition rate. Texas Tech's financial aid department accepts scholarship applications between Oct. 1 and Feb. 1.

Located in downtown Houston, UH features online bachelor's programs in Texas in three areas: RN-to-BSN, psychology, and retailing and consumer sciences. The university also offers numerous online master's degrees, over a dozen of which train future civil, mechanical, and petroleum engineers. Online students follow the same curriculum as their on-campus peers while enjoying asynchronous learning's many advantages.

Online learners visit the UH career services website to take a vocational assessment, register for a virtual advising appointment, and learn about upcoming recruiting events. Students discover these and other resources by creating an AccessUH account.

Prospective students with some college credit or an associate degree use the UH transfer credit estimator to determine how long they need to earn a UH bachelor's degree. All applicants create an ApplyTexas account before submitting required documents. The university considers incoming students for institutional scholarships, some of which award up to $6,000 per year.

Located in the heart of Texas City, COM developed online courses for workers who need additional training for career advancement. Students select courses from seven vocational fields, including language, hospitality and service industry, and construction and trades. All courses use the ed2go online learning platform and take 6-12 months to complete.

COM's career services resemble those students enjoy at other online colleges in Texas, such as a job board and one-on-one career advising appointments. Advisors provide learners with custom-tailored advice by reviewing their career and interest assessment results. The college also actively recruits local employers to recruit COM alumni.

COM's online courses use a simplified admissions process that does not require recommendation letters or transcripts. Students pay up-front tuition before starting their course. Although online learners do not qualify for financial aid, those with need sign up for a 12-month payment plan that charges limited interest.

Online learners need not commute to UHCL's Houston campus to earn one of 17 self-paced, online undergraduate and graduate degrees. Undergraduates major in anthropology, general business, or public service leadership. Master's programs include finance and software engineering.

Students start their job-hunting journey by taking a free online career assessment and selecting appropriate career resources, such as cover letter and resume tips, a networking guide, and professionalism advice. The university allows learners to download these informational guides as a PDF.

Like other online colleges in Texas, UHCL became a test-optional school in 2020. The university plans to remain test-optional throughout 2021. However, the university does not consider prospective freshmen who passed the GED instead of graduating from high school. UHCL awards 10 $500-$1,500 scholarships to incoming first-year learners, and scholarships renew as long as recipients remain in good academic standing.

HBU students who want a flexible educational experience select from numerous online undergraduate and graduate degrees. Options for bachelor's degree-seekers include biblical studies, criminal justice, and management. Master's learners passionate about helping others major in clinical mental health counseling or human services counseling.

HBU career advisors work with students one-on-one to explore job opportunities. Virtual resources for online learners include the Career Library, a collection of guides covering resume and cover letter tips, internships, and salary negotiation strategies.

Like other most affordable online colleges in Texas, HBU employs admissions advisors who help prospective students apply for an academic program and financial aid. A Christian university, HBU does not charge out-of-state tuition. Graduate learners pay a higher per-credit rate than undergraduate degree-seekers. Freshmen with excellent standardized test scores qualify for up to $23,000 per year in institutional aid.

Many current and aspiring business professionals researching online colleges in Texas consider HSU. The university's 10 online graduate degrees include a master of business administration with an optional sport business concentration. The university also offers one fully online bachelor's program in business administration.

Professors and advisors help online learners succeed by providing them with support tools, including online learning success tips. Career counselors working on HSU's Abilene campus interact with students through Handshake and other software suites. Degree-seekers improve their resume and cover letter by downloading templates and reference pages.

Each degree uses different admission requirements, such as a writing sample and a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA. Full-time students pay a per-semester tuition rate, meaning some accelerated learners pay less for their education than part-time degree-seekers. Most undergraduate scholarships do not require a separate application.

UT Dallas' Naveen Jindal School of Management brings the university's Dallas campus to learners living all over the world. Learners can pursue online master's degrees in fields such as accounting and information technology and management. Some programs use a cohort learning model in which students progress through the program together.

UT Dallas career center advisors connect learners not only to job opportunities but other online colleges in Texas that offer doctoral-level business degrees. Students sign up for a virtual career fair and explore job opportunities on Handshake. The university also provides degree-seekers with a guide detailing how to avoid fraudulent job postings.

Admission materials for all graduate degrees include undergraduate transcripts, an essay, a resume, and recommendation letters. Some programs require either GRE or GMAT scores. UT Dallas offers graduate students a guaranteed tuition plan that locks the per-credit tuition rate for up to four years.

Located in northwest Texas, LCU offers online degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The fully online master's in Christian ministry requires coursework in preaching, the New Testament, and family systems. Undergraduates who already possess an associate degree enroll in one of the university's many online bachelor's-completion programs.

The LCU student success center curates resources to help students maintain good grades and find employment, such as free tutors, disability services, and professional mentors. The university's extensive alumni network features more than 9,000 professionals working throughout the United States.

LCU considers transfer credit on a case-by-case basis. Automatic scholarships make LCU one of the most affordable online colleges in Texas for new students who graduated from a local community college. Other learners qualify for scholarships by performing well on the ACT or the SAT.

Prospective students living in and around San Marcos benefit from Texas State's hybrid undergraduate and graduate programs. Most undergraduates spend 25-49% of their time learning online, and bachelor's degrees include economics, interdisciplinary studies, and studio art. The university also offers six entirely online master's degrees, such as construction management and geographic education.

Texas State meets hybrid students' career advising needs by hosting Zoom drop-in hours each week. Other virtual resources for learners and alumni include resume guides, career fair tips, and online etiquette advice. Career counselors also host a podcast available on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

Prospective students take an online learning readiness assessment before applying. Out-of-state students pay a higher tuition rate for online and on-campus courses. Like other online colleges in Texas, Texas State extends financial aid to hybrid learners, such as merit-based scholarships for freshmen and transfer students.

Prospective students interested in accelerated online master's programs in Texas often apply to UTRGV. Degree-seekers select from over a dozen options, including criminal justice and curriculum and instruction. The university also caters to full- and part-time learners by providing the same programs in a traditional semester format.

Students with and without professional experience benefit from UTRGV career center resources, including resume reviews and an exclusive job board. Counselors maintain a resource library detailing industry trends, government data, and top job-hunting resources. These advisors also help learners research doctoral programs and create a persuasive admissions portfolio.

Virtual information sessions allow applicants to speak with an admissions counselor and determine which materials to submit. Some programs require GRE or GMAT scores from the past five years. Graduate students interested in institutional aid submit only one application to apply for more than 200 institutional scholarships.

Students who desire academic flexibility often enroll in one of UT Health San Antonio's five 100% asynchronous online degrees. Options include bachelor's and graduate degrees in dental hygiene and respiratory care. Synchronous online learners select from two programs: a master's in deaf education or a doctor of nursing practice.

UT Health San Antonio promotes students' career readiness by hosting spring and fall semester job fairs. These fairs feature employers in and around San Antonio. The university's career counselors also teach seminars on how to write a persuasive resume, professional development, and job-hunting tips.

Like many online colleges in Texas, UT Health San Antonio admits out-of-state learners who reside in an NC-SARA member state. Admission requirements for dental hygiene applicants include shadowing a dental hygienist in a hospital or clinical setting. Institutional and departmental scholarships require a separate application, and interested learners also submit FAFSA results.

One of the best online schools in Texas for future healthcare leaders, UTHealth offers master's and doctoral degrees in biomedical informatics. Other students enroll in the School of Biomedical Informatics' doctoral program in health informatics. All programs feature a 100% asynchronous curriculum, allowing learners to continue working.

UTHealth's career office posts professional development videos focusing on different healthcare subfields. Advisors host workshops and events, and students without job experience sign up for the university's mentor program and volunteer opportunities. Virtual resources include links to top job boards, networking sites, and career exploration guides.

Programs accept new degree-seekers 1-3 times per academic year. The health informatics program's admission requirements include an employer's letter of support, three professional recommendations, and a resume. Financial aid advisors maintain a list of scholarship search engines and funding opportunities exclusive to health science students.