3 Best Private Universities in Texas 2023: Best Of The Best
Choosing between a public or private university can be a rather difficult task. It can make or break your academic journey.
That is why there are many factors you need to be aware of before making a final decision.
For starters, you should know that the difference between private and public universities lies in the way these schools are funded and financed.
Moreover, many believe that private universities are more focused on creating a business, while public universities are focused on education.
Whether this is true or not is still up for debate, but to be honest, private universities do operate a bit differently.
Nevertheless, private universities are known to generally offer exceptional quality of education and student support services.
Oftentimes, they tend to be costly, but offer numerous advances for the students, the latest technology, flexible attendance, financial aid options, and exams dates, etc.
So, if this sounds good to you, then you’re in the right place.
In the following paragraphs, we’re going to look at currently the top 3 best private universities in Texas.
But, before we begin, here’s what you need to look out for when researching and choosing your future private university;
- Check the admission requirements and the documentation that is required to submit during the application cycle. Some private universities can have different admission rules and requirements than public universities.
- Tuition cost and financial aid are some of the biggest factors when choosing between private and public universities. Some private universities can be more affordable than public ones. They can also offer better scholarships and financial aid options that can help you lower the cost of attendance.
- Check the acceptance rate and student enrollment numbers for each of the private schools; this can provide insight into the quality of education, teacher-student ratio, learning and training opportunities, etc.
- It is also essential to look into the degrees and programs private universities offer, whether they’re accredited and how their degrees apply out in the world and the workforce.
- Also, check for the student support service at each of the universities. Student support services are crucial in ensuring healthy learning and working environment. Each student deserves to be able to rely on the university staff and support beyond academics.
- And lastly, make sure to check the cost of attendance at private universities. If you’re not a Texas resident, for example, make sure to check out-of-state full-time attendance cost, as well as residency cost.
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1. Rice University – Best Private university in Houston, Texas
- Admission Requirements – high school GPA score (3.96), high school rank, high school transcript, college prep courses, SAT score (average 1500) and ACT score (average 33-35), letters of recommendation, online application (+fee payment), personal statement, or application essay.
- Acceptance Rate – 11,1%
- Total School Enrollment – 7,124
- Degree Programs – check the RICE University official website featuring all departments, programs and degrees the university offers.
- Student Support Services – Student Affairs, Student Employment, Community Involvement Center, Disability Resource Center, Student Health Services, etc.
- Financial Aid – Club C-Funds and BANNER, student activities P-Cards, fines policy, fundraising, donations, grants, scholarships, Financial Aid Office and financial management services, etc.
- Average Cost – $46,600 for tuition, $14,000 room and board, $1,200 for books and supplies and $750 for other fees, for both in-state and out-of-state students (considering that in-state students don’t pay for rooms).
- Location of Campus – Houston, Texas (6100 Main St, United States)
Rice University is one of the best private universities in Texas. This facility is a research center that offers dozens of degrees and programs in different areas of study; from applied science programs to the space science and nanotechnology study and research, this university will create a learning opportunity for everyone’s interest.
Because there is a great demand for Rice University, the admission is very selective, and the acceptance rate is quite strict. The focus of the university is creating future research leaders, innovative people who will contribute to the betterment of the world.
A decade ago, Rice University was considered to be the best private university in the world when it comes to scientific research. Nowadays, the Rice University ranks at the 17th position in regards to best private national universities.
2. Austin College – Best Private liberal Arts College in Sherman, Texas
- Admission Requirements – high school GPA score (3.64), high school rank, high school transcript, college prep courses, SAT score (average 1360) and ACT score (average 23-29), letters of recommendation, Common Application, Apply Texas or Coalition Application, personal statement or admission essay (250-650 words, topic of personal student’s choice), admission interview, TOEFL/IELTS for international students.
- Acceptance Rate – 52%
- Total School Enrollment – 1,223 (2019 statistics)
- Degree Programs – check the Austin College official website featuring all departments, programs and degrees the university offers.
- Student Support Services – Student Affairs, Academic Skills Center, Athletics, Auxiliary Enterprises, Career Service, Counseling Services, Health Services, Religious Life, Student Wellness Programs, etc.
- Financial Aid – Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), academic scholarships, Austin College need-based grants, federal and state grants, work-study programs, etc.
- Average Cost – $39,775 for tuition, $12,527 room and board, $1,250 for books and supplies and $185 for other fees, for both in-state and out-of-state students (considering that in-state students don’t pay for rooms).
- Location of Campus – Sherman, Texas 75090 (900 N Grand Ave, United States)
Another private university on the list is the well-known Austin College.
This private institution is one of the best in the state of Texas, mostly because of the wide range of study fields, healthy learning environment, excellent campus life and generall quality of education and training opportunities.
Each of the students receives the same amount of attention and learning opportunities; the numerous student support services add to the excellent student and campus life.
The student body, though competitive, is actually very welcoming and friendly. Austin College promotes the principles of diversity and unity among the students, which is what they believe a good contribution to society looks like.
According to the Princeton Review, there is a great variety of different backgrounds, religions, political beliefe and general life perspectives at this college. Currently, Austin College ranks at the 117th position in regards to the best colleges in the National Liberal Arts Colleges list.
3. Baylor University – Best Private Baptist Christian University in Waco, Texas
- Admission Requirements – high school GPA score (3.74), high school rank, high school transcript, college prep courses, SAT score (average 1190-1370) and ACT score (average 26-31), letters of recommendation, personal statement or admission essay (250-650 words, topic of personal student’s choice), completion of College Preparatory program, TOEFL/IELTS for international students.
- Acceptance Rate – 38.9%
- Total School Enrollment – 17, 217 (2018 statistics)
- Degree Programs – check the Baylor University official website featuring all departments, programs and degrees the university offers.
- Student Support Services – Student Affairs, Advising Services, learning Resources Center (LCR), Student Wellness Services, SOE Electronic Portfolio, Professional Meeting Support for Undergraduates, etc.
- Financial Aid – Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Educational Loans, Financial Settlement Information, grants, scholarships, student employment, etc.
- Average Cost – $39,775 for tuition, $12,527 room and board, $1,250 for books and supplies and $185 for other fees, for both in-state and out-of-state students (considering that in-state students don’t pay for rooms).
- Location of Campus – Waco, Texas 76706 (1311 S 5th St, United States)
Baylor University in Waco, Texas is a private and one of the best universities in the state.
This is also a Baptist, Christian university, where the learning and training are often accompanied by service and faith. Being also one of the oldest operating private universities in Texas, the Baylor University has produced thousands of graduates, mostly because it usually enrolls around 17,000 students each year, with around 3,000 freshmen enrolling every fall.
At the university, there are students from seemingly every state in the country, as well as numerous international students.
The student body is relatively competitive, however, the acceptance rate can be pretty strict.
The reason for that lies in the fact that the quality of education is outstanding, and the fact that more than 80% of graduates find employment within three to five months after graduation.
Currently, the Baylor University ranks at the 79th place in regards to the Best Colleges and National Universities list.
Summary
This was the list of the top three currently best ranking and best performing private colleges in the state of Texas.
We hope that this brief, yet compelling list and insight will be helpful to all the students out there.
Students are usually intimidated by private universities, mostly because of the assumption that they are too expensive.
However, many private colleges, as shown in previous paragraphs, tend to be cheaper than public universities.
And, with all the financial aid they offer, you can count on the attendance cost to drop up to 50%.
In this article, you can find the basic, essential information about the universities. For more information, make sure to visit the universities’ official websites, or contact them directly.
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