Texas runs one of the largest higher-education systems in the country, and our database lists 785 colleges, universities, career schools, and training programs across the state. They range from major public university campuses to single-location barber and beauty schools. Which agency oversees a school depends on what it teaches and whether it grants degrees. Knowing that split saves time when you need records, want to file a complaint, or want to confirm a program is legitimate.

Who Regulates Colleges in Texas and Which Agency to Contact

Texas has no single regulator for every school. Four bodies cover most listings on this page, and each answers a different kind of question.

Public institutions also answer to their own governing boards. University systems such as the University of Texas System, the Texas A&M University System, the Texas Tech University System, and the University of Houston System are each led by a board of regents appointed by the governor. Community college districts are governed by locally elected boards of trustees.

Accreditation is a separate check from state approval. Degree-granting schools in Texas are usually accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Career schools often use national accreditors instead. Ask any school for the name of its accreditor, then confirm it with the accreditor directly, because accreditation affects credit transfer and federal financial aid.

Public, Private, and Career Schools in the Texas Listings

The listings mix every type of institution. On the public university side, University of Houston-Victoria at 3007 North Ben Wilson Street in Victoria (877-970-4848) is part of the University of Houston System. Our database also carries a Texas Tech University entry at 1400 College Drive in Waco (254-299-8324), in McLennan County.

Community colleges carry much of the state's workforce training. San Jacinto Community College lists a location at 8060 Spencer Highway in Pasadena (281-998-6150), in Harris County. South Texas College at 3201 Pecan Boulevard in McAllen (956-872-8311) serves the Rio Grande Valley. Midland College lists an aviation maintenance technology hangar at 2405 Windecker Street (432-685-4500). Texas community colleges can charge lower tuition to residents of their taxing district than to students from outside it.

Private nonprofit and graduate schools appear too. Hardin-Simmons University, at 2200 Hickory Street in Abilene (325-670-1000), is a private university in Taylor County. In the big metros you will find specialized graduate schools, such as Bakke Graduate University at 8515 Greenville Avenue in Dallas (214-329-4447) and Aoma Graduate School of Integrative Medicine at 4701 West Gate Boulevard in Austin (512-454-1188).

Career and trade schools make up a large share of the 785 entries. Examples include Altierus Career College-Bissonnet at 9700 Bissonnet Street in Houston (713-772-4200), Covenant School of Nursing and Allied Health at 1919 Frankford Avenue in Lubbock (806-725-8900), and Anamarc College-El Paso Central at 3210 Dyer Street (915-351-8100). Beauty and barber schools are plentiful as well. They include Alamo City Barber College in San Antonio, South Texas Barber College in Corpus Christi, Advanced Beauty College in Irving, and Exposito School of Hair Design in Amarillo.

Metro and Rural Differences Across Texas Counties

Location shapes your options more in Texas than in most states, because the distances are so large. Harris County and Dallas County together account for roughly 245 listings. Bexar County, Travis County, and Tarrant County add many more. In these metros you can compare several schools offering the same program, find evening and weekend classes, and usually reach a campus by transit or a short drive.

The Rio Grande Valley and the border follow a different pattern. Hidalgo County and Cameron County have fewer schools than the big metros, but community colleges and career schools there draw students from a wide area. Salon & Spa Institute at 2695 North Coria Street in Brownsville (956-541-3330) is one example. El Paso County, with 24 listings, forms its own regional hub, far from every other large Texas city.

West Texas and the Panhandle have fewer choices, so each campus matters more. Lubbock County has 17 listings and anchors the South Plains, while Midland, Amarillo, and Abilene each serve a wide surrounding area. If the nearest campus is an hour or more away, ask about online or hybrid sections before you commit. Hands-on programs such as nursing, welding, and aviation maintenance still require time on site.

On the Gulf Coast, Nueces County centers on Corpus Christi, and Galveston County sits within reach of the Houston job market. In Central Texas, Bell County includes Killeen, where Yahweh Beauty Academy lists an address at 431 North 38th Street (254-554-7771).

Residency, Tuition, and Aid Rules That Apply in Texas

Tuition at public Texas institutions depends heavily on residency. In general, you qualify for in-state rates if you, or your parent if you are a dependent, have lived in Texas for the 12 months before the census date of the term. Colleges will ask for proof such as a lease, tax records, or voter registration. Residency rules have exceptions and have changed in recent years, so confirm your status with the admissions office before you register.

Admission to public schools usually starts with the ApplyTexas common application. Most students entering a public college must also show readiness through the Texas Success Initiative assessment or qualify for an exemption. Community colleges are open-admission, while public universities set their own standards. Texas also grants automatic admission to most public universities for students in the top 10 percent of their graduating class, although the University of Texas at Austin applies a narrower cutoff.

For aid, start with the FAFSA. The TEXAS Grant is the state's main need-based grant for students at public colleges, and the Hazlewood Act offers tuition exemptions to eligible Texas veterans. Priority deadlines come early in the year, so file as soon as the application opens. Private career schools must be approved for federal aid before they can award it, so ask whether yours is.

How to Check a Texas School Before You Enroll

Start by calling the number in the listing to confirm the school is open and still offers your program. Some entries reflect schools that have changed names or closed. ITT Technical Institute, for instance, shut down nationwide in 2016, so an older listing such as the Arlington campus on Ryan Plaza Drive may no longer be an active school.

Next, ask for the catalog, the enrollment agreement, the total cost, graduation and job placement rates, and the name of the accreditor. For beauty and barber programs, confirm the school holds a current TDLR license. For private career schools, confirm TWC approval. Do not sign an enrollment agreement at your first visit. Take it home and read the refund terms.

Bring a photo ID, your high school or GED records, any previous college transcripts, and proof of Texas residency. If you plan to apply for aid, bring your Social Security number and recent tax information as well.

Public colleges and universities in Texas offer residents access to affordable higher education, professional certifications, and workforce training. The Texas state legislature oversees funding and policy for public institutions, while individual governing boards manage each campus.

Colleges locations are available in 186 cities across Texas. They are spread across 107 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, reflecting the presence of major university campuses and community college districts serving large student populations.

Prospective students in Texas should research in-state tuition rates, available degree programs, and financial aid options at public institutions, as these factors vary significantly between community colleges and four-year universities.

Colleges by Counties

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Students in Texas applying to public colleges and universities should complete the FAFSA as early as possible to maximize eligibility for federal and state financial aid. Many Texas institutions also offer state-specific grant programs with additional eligibility criteria.

Browse Colleges by county across Texas to find the nearest location.

Searching for Texas Colleges by City and County

Houston has 112 listings, San Antonio 81, Dallas 58, and Austin 57. Searching by city first and then by program is usually the fastest route. Remember that metro areas spill across city and county lines. A Dallas-area search should also cover Irving, Mesquite, Garland, Richardson, and Grand Prairie, all of which carry Dallas County addresses in our data. Fort Worth and Arlington fall under Tarrant County.

Once you have a short list, call the admissions office for enrollment questions, the financial aid office for costs, and the registrar for transcripts. Public universities and community colleges publish office hours and deadlines each term. Small career schools often have a single front desk, so call during business hours and ask who handles each question. If a school has closed, the Texas Workforce Commission or the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board can usually point you toward your records.

Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges in Texas

Start with the school's own grievance procedure and put your complaint in writing. Keep copies of emails, enrollment agreements, and receipts. If the school is a private career school, you can then file with the Texas Workforce Commission's Career Schools and Colleges unit. Complaints about degree-granting institutions can go to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and cosmetology or barber school problems go to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Accreditors review complaints too. Act promptly, because refund windows can be short, and note dates, names, and what each person told you.

Most Texas public community colleges and universities accept ApplyTexas, a common online application that lets you build one profile and send it to several schools. You will need personal details, high school or GED information, and sometimes an application fee or a fee waiver request. Community colleges are open-admission, so the next steps are the Texas Success Initiative assessment or an exemption, advising, and registration. Universities add transcripts and may require test scores or essays. Deadlines differ by school and term, so check each admissions office and file the FAFSA at the same time.

The Texas Success Initiative, or TSI, is a state program that checks whether students are ready for college-level reading, writing, and math. Most students entering a Texas public college take the TSIA2 assessment unless they are exempt. Exemptions can come from qualifying scores on tests such as the SAT or ACT, from certain high school results, from earlier college-level coursework, or from some military service. If you are not ready in a subject, the college may place you in a course with extra support. Ask the college testing center what it accepts and whether free prep material is available.

Yes. Working as a cosmetologist or barber in Texas requires a license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. You complete the required training hours at a TDLR-licensed school and then pass the state licensing exams. Schools such as Alamo City Barber College in San Antonio or Advanced Beauty College in Irving must hold their own school license, so verify it before you pay tuition. Ask how many hours the program requires, what exam fees apply, and how many graduates pass on the first try. Keep your hour records, because TDLR may ask for them when you apply.

Credits move most easily among public institutions. The 42-hour Texas Core Curriculum is designed to transfer as a block between public colleges and universities, and the Texas Common Course Numbering System helps match equivalent courses. Credits from private and career schools are accepted at the receiving school's discretion, and nationally accredited schools often find transfer harder. Before you enroll, ask the school you hope to transfer into for a written credit evaluation. Keep your syllabi and transcripts, and talk to an advisor at the receiving campus early.

File the FAFSA first, since Texas colleges use it for federal and state aid. The TEXAS Grant helps eligible low-income students at public colleges. The Hazlewood Act gives eligible Texas veterans, and in some cases their spouses or children, a tuition exemption at public institutions up to a set number of credit hours. Apply through the school's veterans services or financial aid office, and bring your discharge papers and proof of Texas residency. Many community colleges also offer payment plans and scholarships. Priority dates often fall in winter or spring, so ask early.

Closures are not rare among private career schools, and brands such as ITT Technical Institute ended operations years ago. For a closed private career school, contact the Texas Workforce Commission's Career Schools and Colleges unit and ask how to request your transcript. For a closed degree-granting school, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board can tell you who holds the records. If you were enrolled when the school closed, or left shortly before, you may qualify for a federal closed school loan discharge. Request records early, because employers and other colleges will ask for them.