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Cheapest Liberal Arts and Sciences Colleges in Texas

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

Texas A&M University-Central Texas offers Liberal Arts and Sciences programs with net costs as low as $1,113, creating an extraordinary gap between the most and least affordable options in the state. While private institutions like Texas College charge over $10,650 annually, public universities dominate the affordable market with 12 of the top 15 spots. The earnings potential varies significantly, with Texas Woman's University graduates earning $40,037 compared to $27,552 at UT Rio Grande Valley. Texas's massive healthcare sector, anchored by Houston's Texas Medical Center and major employers like HCA Healthcare and Baylor Scott & White, creates opportunities for liberal arts graduates in healthcare administration, patient advocacy, and medical communications. The state's varied economy also supports roles in education, social services, and nonprofit management where broad analytical and communication skills prove valuable. Public universities like UT San Antonio and UT El Paso maintain high acceptance rates above 86% while keeping costs manageable through state funding and programs like the TEXAS Grant.
50
Programs
$1,113 – $27,401
Net Price Range
$34,292
Avg. Program Earnings
47.1%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $1,113 $6,627 95.7%
2 $6,500 $9,859 49.3% 87.7%
3 $8,376 $9,590 43.8% 93.6%
4 $8,624 $7,499 26.5% 82.1%
5 $8,750 $7,680 27.3%
6 $9,144 $10,904 43.0% 94.7%
7 $10,409 $11,720 15.1%
8 $10,650 $10,008 10.7%
9 $10,726 $9,744 45.9% 99.9%
10 $10,948 $8,648 44.2% 93.6%
11 $10,991 $7,592 27.4% 97.1%
12 $11,056 $7,746 50.9% 69.4%
13 $11,234 $8,991 51.2% 86.9%
14 $11,268 $10,026 45.9% 86.5%
15 $11,429 $8,690 37.2% 83.7%
16 $11,882 $10,310 41.3% 92.4%
17 $12,637 $7,930 31.2% 91.5%
18 $13,853 $9,711 64.9% 66.2%
19 $14,041 $11,299 43.2% 76.1%
20 $14,352 $11,164 59.6% 79.1%
21 $14,623 $7,708 33.8% 88.4%
22 $15,152 $10,600 51.7% 89.5%
23 $15,235 $11,728 56.5% 80.8%
24 $16,025 $9,228 55.1% 84.6%
25 $16,438 $11,450 56.2% 87.7%
26 $17,760 $31,728 42.4%
27 $18,762 $33,660 68.6% 96.7%
28 $19,655 $18,610 35.5% 85.7%
29 $19,678 $11,678 87.6% 31.4%
30 $19,710 $38,100 49.8% 84.5%
31 $19,734 $9,173 19.9% 96.8%
32 $19,847 $14,703 36.1% 51.9%
33 $20,071 $11,852 67.5% 67.3%
34 $20,244 $13,498 38.1% 57.3%
35 $20,261 $7,878 51.2% 87.1%
36 $20,410 $37,396 43.7% 85.2%
37 $20,498 $35,660 51.8% 94.2%
38 $20,540 $23,186 19.2% 69.7%
39 $20,581 $24,588 41.1% 53.6%
40 $20,841 $9,101 47.3% 91.6%
41 $20,924 $13,099 83.8% 62.7%
42 $22,240 $36,690 40.5% 85.7%
43 $23,636 $51,384 64.2% 85.1%
44 $23,650 $51,352 81.9% 30.5%
45 $23,790 $30,050 48.0% 67.7%
46 $25,255 $33,322 31.1% 62.3%
47 $25,470 $50,880 68.0% 58.7%
48 $25,491 $17,457 71.8%
49 $25,910 $27,298 48.7% 81.6%
50 $27,401 $42,380 60.2% 65.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Texas A&M University-Central Texas so affordable for Liberal Arts students?

Texas A&M-Central Texas offers net costs of just $1,113 for Liberal Arts and Sciences programs, the lowest in the state. The university serves a significant military population in Killeen, which qualifies many students for additional federal aid and veteran benefits. With a 95.71% acceptance rate, the school maintains open access while keeping expenses low through efficient operations and strong state support.

How do earnings compare between the cheapest and most expensive programs?

Graduates from Texas Woman's University earn $40,037 annually despite net costs of $10,948, while UT Rio Grande Valley graduates earn $27,552 with much lower costs at $6,500. The $12,485 earnings difference suggests that program quality and regional job markets significantly impact outcomes. TWU's location near Dallas-Fort Worth provides access to higher-paying positions in corporate communications and government relations.

Is graduation rate connected to program cost in Texas Liberal Arts programs?

Higher-cost programs show mixed graduation results, with University of Houston-Clear Lake achieving 50.9% graduation rates at $11,056 net cost. However, expensive private options like Texas College show only 10.7% graduation rates despite $10,650 annual costs. The most affordable option, Texas A&M-Central Texas, maintains reasonable outcomes while keeping expenses minimal.

Does student debt vary significantly among Texas Liberal Arts programs?

Student debt ranges from $17,997 at Texas A&M-Central Texas to $22,781 at Lamar University among schools reporting debt data. Despite higher net costs, Texas Woman's University graduates carry $22,609 in debt but earn significantly more post-graduation. The debt-to-earnings ratios suggest that some higher-cost programs provide better long-term value through stronger career placement and alumni networks.

Where do Liberal Arts graduates find employment in Texas's job market?

Texas's healthcare sector employs many liberal arts graduates in patient advocacy, medical writing, and administrative roles at major systems like MD Anderson and Baylor Scott & White. The state's 254 counties also create demand for social services coordinators and government communications specialists. Houston's energy sector and Austin's technology companies increasingly value liberal arts graduates for their analytical thinking and communication skills in customer relations and project management roles.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.