Best Colleges in Austin – Are you looking to find the best colleges in Austin? We all know finding the perfect college to attend can be quite hard. With so many educational institutions to choose from in Austin, how do you know which school is the best one for you?
The most important thing to consider when picking the right college is your personal preferences and needs, as well as the type of experience that you hope to gain while attending school.
At the same time, it can be difficult to predict what you’ll really want once you set foot on campus, so don’t try to make any big decisions before visiting the schools you’re considering!
To save you time and help you decide fast, here are the picked out top 8 Best Colleges in Austin that can provide you with an outstanding education, training, and the opportunity to meet new people and make friends in one of the best cities in the United States!
The Top 8 Best Colleges in Austin
1. University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin was established on September 15, 1883, and is the oldest tertiary institution within the University of Texas System.
UT Austin is a highly rated public research university with a 32% acceptance rate and is ranked 7th out of 917 in the Best Colleges for Communications in America rankings.
It is ranked as a top-tier public university for both undergraduate and graduate degrees and offers more than 672 courses to over 51,000 students and 40,163 undergraduates.
A few of UT Austin’s notable alumni are:
- Jayne Mansfield
- Former Florida governor, Jeb Bush
- Farrah Fawcett
- Wes Anderson
- Former White House Chief of staff, James Baker
- Former First lady of the United States, Laura Bush
- Jordan Spieth
- Lady Bird Johnson
2. Southwestern University
The Southwestern University is a private Christian institution established in 1840. The original idea to form this school was from 1873 but got granted in 1840, making it one of the oldest higher institutions in Texas.
It’s a small private university sitting on 700 acres of land (much of which is undeveloped) with a total enrollment of about 1,515 undergraduate, 317 administrative staff, and 386 academic staff.
SU is offering over 40 bachelor’s majors and minors with a competitive acceptance rate of 49%.
Some of SU’s notable alumni are:
- Barry Ables
- Jessie Daniel Ames
- Bill Engvall
- A US Senator from Texas, Earle Bradford Mayfield
- Jack O’Brien
- Carl Reynolds
- Jerry Hardin
- Pete Cawthon
- Serena DeBeer
3. Texas State University
Texas State University is a multi-campus institution established in 1899 but commence service in 1903 with 303 foundational students.
Since the time of its establishment, the school has now risen to be the 5th largest university in the state of Texas.
TSU has an acceptance rate of 81% and a total undergraduate enrollment of 33,956, 38,231 students, and 4,275 postgraduates.
Texas State has many student clubs and organizations, including Greek Life and a radio station. Graduate programs are offered through 13 different colleges. Many popular majors include Biology, Business Administration, and Criminal Justice.
Some of Texas State University’s prominent alumni are:
- 6 time Major League Baseball All-Star, Paul Goldschmidt
- George Strait
- John Sharp
- The United States Air Force General, Robert L. Rutherford
- The United States 36th President, Lyndon B. Johnson
4. St. Edward’s University
Established in 1877, St. Edward’s University is a private Catholic higher institution located in Austin, Texas with a 91% acceptance rate and is being operated in accordance with the Holy Cross tradition.
Though it’s a small and private university when compared to others in its category, St. Edward’s University has gained national acclaim for its academic excellence, including a 56th ranking in the Best Hispanic-Serving Institutions in America edition.
Over 4,300 students with different backgrounds, races, and ethnicity study at St. Edward’s with tuition starting at $30,072 for undergraduates each year. Popular majors include Environmental Science & Policy, Marketing, Business Administration, and Theatre Arts.
A few of St. Edward’s University’s notable alumni are:
- Former speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, Dennis Bonnen
- Former Judge of US District Court, George Edward Cire
- Jordan Prime Minister, Abdul Karim al-Kabariti
- Former Major League Baseball player, Bill Killefer
- Mel Stuessy
- Palestine Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad
5. South University – Austin
South University was founded in 1899 and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. A non-profit Colbeck Foundation owns SU.
The school has an acceptance rate of 100% and its focuses on delivering an experience that students can apply to real-world situations.
It offers a wide variety of programs from Bachelor’s degrees to master’s degrees and certificate courses. Some of the sought-after programs are nursing, pharmacy, business & technology, public administration, theology, and public health.
Since its founding, South University has been dedicated to providing quality higher education through accessible programs with affordable tuition rates.
6. Huston-Tillotson University
Huston-Tillotson University was established in 1875 and is the first tertiary institution in the whole of Austin. HTU is ranked 48th place of 1,432 Best College Locations in America and has an acceptance rate of 63%.
This top-tier historically black college has a beautiful campus and, more importantly, an excellent student-to-teacher ratio.
HTU provides comprehensive education for undergraduates in all major and minor courses. There are also many excellent programs like social sciences, technology, natural sciences, and business available.
Furthering its excellence, HTU is a member of The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division; therefore students benefit from nationally competitive athletic teams such as track and field, tennis, volleyball, and basketball.
Some Huston-Tillotson University alumni are:
- The retired pastor of St. Luke Community United Methodist Church, Dr. Zan Wesley Holmes
- The United States Treasurer, Azie Taylor Morton
- Former minister of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church, Cecil Williams
- The first female African-American physician, Joyce Yerwood
- Volma Overton
- Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Joe Leonard Jr
- James A. Harris
- The first African-American Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives, Ron Givens
- Former Huston-Tillotson school president, Dr. Karl E. Downs
7. Concordia University – Texas
Concordia University Texas is a private Christian four-year tertiary institution located in Austin, TX with an acceptance rate of 90%. The school was founded in 1926 as Lutheran Concordia College of Texas and became Concordia University Texas after going through a name change series.
Students can choose from a variety of undergraduate degrees, online degrees, and graduate programs. Adult degree programs are also available.
CU originally commence service with 26 students and has since then been growing to acquire more than 2,500 students, 1,532 undergraduate, and 1,034 postgraduate.
Some Concordia University alumni are:
- Scott Linebrink, a former professional baseball pitcher
- The theologian and cultural commentator, Richard John Neuhaus
- Randy Phillip
8. Austin Community College District
Austin Community College District is a public institution established on September 17, 1973. As one of two major community colleges in Austin, Texas, ACC offers its students a variety of degrees and certificates.
ACC is the 6th largest community college in the United States and the 4th largest college in Texas with over 41,500 enrolled credit students.
Austin Community College is regionally accredited and an affordable option for earning credits that can later be transferred to other colleges or universities when trying to pursue a post-graduate degree program.
With over 100 degree and certificate programs to choose from, you’re sure to find something that fits your goals at ACC. The acceptance rate is capped at a fairly competitive rate of 100%. Popular majors include business, nursing, liberal arts & humanities, biology, computer science, engineering, arts, digital media & communications, and health sciences.
Austin Community College District’s notable alumni include Richar Linklater and Alex Jones, a radio host and conspiracy theorist.
Conclusion
Even though there’s a vast choice of great colleges and universities across Austin, not all of them will have what you’re looking for.
When making your decision, you may want to look at a few different factors such as tuition costs, location, campus activities, and the size of classes.
After analyzing all of these aspects carefully you will be able to find your top choices for colleges. Hope this list of the top Best Colleges in Austin will help you find a prospective higher institution to attend.
