Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Texas
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of St Thomas, The University of Texas at Austin and University of Mary Hardin-Baylor are the top bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Texas by graduate earnings. University of St Thomas leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,187, College Scorecard. Laredo College, Palo Alto College and Northeast Lakeview College award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Texas: 1,387, 1,219 and 1,154 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 117 Texas colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 58,223 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of St Thomas Houston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $53,187 | 38 | 69% | $19,546 | $25,000 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,243 | 415 | 89% | — | $19,052 |
| 3 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Belton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,522 | 20 | 49% | $27,869 | $31,000 |
| 4 | Texas Woman's University Denton Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,803 | 186 | 49% | — | $32,625 |
| 5 | Sam Houston State University Huntsville Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,112 | 24 | 55% | — | $25,750 |
| 6 | West Texas A & M University Canyon Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,793 | 182 | 55% | — | $23,250 |
| 7 | Texas Tech University Lubbock Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,600 | 265 | 69% | — | $28,713 |
| 8 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,185 | 281 | 54% | — | $28,750 |
| 9 | East Texas A&M University Commerce Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,969 | 230 | 43% | — | $28,933 |
| 10 | Texas State University San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,829 | 216 | 55% | — | $26,599 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Howard College Big Spring Public · Associate degree | $36,240 | 48 | 35% | — | $14,233 |
| 2 | North Central Texas College Gainesville Public · Associate degree | $34,615 | 918 | 35% | — | $11,546 |
| 3 | Grayson College Denison Public · Associate degree | $34,262 | 508 | 40% | — | $8,375 |
| 4 | Northeast Texas Community College Mount Pleasant Public · Associate degree | $33,903 | 218 | 56% | — | $12,500 |
| 5 | Dallas College Dallas Public · Associate degree | $33,060 | 5,908 | 32% | — | $11,000 |
| 6 | Lee College Baytown Public · Associate degree | $31,916 | 489 | 53% | — | $8,476 |
| 7 | Amarillo College Amarillo Public · Associate degree | $31,173 | 352 | 32% | — | $13,830 |
| 8 | McLennan Community College Waco Public · Associate degree | $30,690 | 735 | 39% | — | $12,843 |
| 9 | Galveston College Galveston Public · Associate degree | $30,586 | 152 | 33% | — | $12,515 |
| 10 | Tarrant County College District Fort Worth Public · Associate degree | $30,179 | 4,598 | 34% | — | $10,944 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Texas
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laredo College Laredo Public | 1,387 | Not reported |
| 2 | Palo Alto College San Antonio Public | 1,219 | Not reported |
| 3 | Northeast Lakeview College Universal City Public | 1,154 | Not reported |
| 4 | Lamar State College - Orange Orange Public | 479 | Not reported |
| 5 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public | 415 | $45,243 |
| 6 | University of North Texas Denton Public | 374 | $36,588 |
| 7 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington Public | 281 | $40,185 |
| 8 | Texas Tech University Lubbock Public | 265 | $40,600 |
| 9 | Panola College Carthage Public | 264 | Not reported |
| 10 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio Public | 259 | $34,397 |
ShowHide the other 107 Texas colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).
What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Texas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Texas.
Which Texas colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
Laredo College (1,387 graduates a year), Palo Alto College (1,219 graduates a year) and Northeast Lakeview College (1,154 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Texas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 117 Texas colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Texas?+
By graduate earnings, University of St Thomas leads among bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Texas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $53,187, College Scorecard. The University of Texas at Austin and University of Mary Hardin-Baylor follow. By degrees awarded, Laredo College is the largest, with 1,387 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in Texas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of St Thomas tops the list at $53,187. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Texas?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in Texas is $79,600 (median $64,110), across about 4,600 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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