The Best Online Colleges in Texas for 2021

Located in a binational urban area that includes Mexico's Ciudad Juárez and New Mexico's Las Cruces, UTEP serves a student body that comprises 80% Hispanic learners. The public university offers more affordable tuition rates than many research institutions and is among the most affordable colleges in Texas.

UTEP offers online degrees including eight bachelor's options and 10 master's degrees. The university delivers bachelor's programs in criminal justice, media advertising, and Chicano studies. Students can pursue a degree-completion program in multidisciplinary studies. Master's students can earn degrees in education, music, engineering, and the arts. UTEP also provides bachelor's and master's programs in nursing.

Distance learners can access career counseling and library resources, as well as an online writing center and assistive technology lab. UTEP delivers online classes asynchronously, which helps working learners balance their coursework with professional and personal obligations. The El Paso campus also offers affordable tuition rates for those seeking an engineering degree. Tuition averages about $8,961 per tuition year at this public university, which has a graduation rate of 75% for first-time students pursuing bachelor’s degrees. It will take you about four years to complete your undergrad degree here.

UHD enrolls more than 15,000 students annually, about a third of whom study online. One of the best online colleges in Texas, the public university offers online programs that prepare graduates for a variety of careers.

Students with at least 15 transfer credits and a minimum 2.0 GPA can enroll in UHD's online bachelor's degree-completion programs. Bachelor's degree options include majors in the humanities, business, and public service. Students can pursue an interdisciplinary studies major to develop their own course of study. UHD also offers online master's degrees in nonprofit management, criminal justice, and security management.

Learners can complete most programs entirely online. However, some distance programs include onsite orientation, testing, or lab requirements. UHD maintains articulation agreements with Houston-area community colleges to facilitate seamless transfers. Online students may be eligible for institutional scholarships. This public university has a graduation rate of 73% for first-time students pursuing their bachelor’s degrees. Tuition here costs, on average, about $11,570 per year and it will take you about four years to finish your undergraduate degree.

A public research university founded in 1923, LU is located in Beaumont, a small city in Southeast Texas. LU is part of the Texas State University System, which maintains the lowest average tuition and fees of any university system in the state.

Online students at LU can choose from a variety of bachelor's and master's programs. The university offers 13 bachelor's programs for freshmen and transfer students. The bachelor of applied arts and sciences degree-completion program is ideal for working professionals. In addition to accepting transfer credits, LU offers credit for work and military experience. Students in the general studies bachelor's program craft a personalized interdisciplinary liberal arts curriculum.

Other bachelor's programs train students for careers in engineering, social sciences, business, communication, and nursing. LU provides more than 30 master's and certificate programs in areas including education, counseling, business, nursing, and public service. Lamar University, a public institution, has a graduation rate of 66% for first-time students pursuing their bachelor’s degrees. Tuition costs, on average, are about $10,460 per year. It will take you about four years to earn your degree at this school.

Part of the University of Texas System, UTPB enrolls nearly 9,000 students annually online and at its campuses in Odessa and Midland. All online students pay the same tuition rates, regardless of residency. Distance learners can access academic advising, career services, and tutoring.

UTPB students can choose from a variety of online bachelor's and master's degrees. The university offers 12 online bachelor's programs in fields including business and social sciences. UTPB's interdisciplinary bachelor of arts in humanities program helps students maximize their transfer credits.

Learners who plan to pursue careers in manufacturing and engineering can earn a bachelor of science in industrial technology. UTPB also offers an online RN-to-BSN program. The school delivers eight master's degrees in disciplines including education, business, public administration, and criminal justice. As part of the public University of Texas system, the Permian Basin campus has an average yearly tuition of $10,400. It will take you about four years to complete your degree here. The graduation rate at UTPB is 63% for first-time students getting their undergraduate degrees.

A large public research university, SHSU is located north of Houston in the Piney Woods region of East Texas. With similar online and on-campus tuition rates, SHSU ranks among the most affordable online colleges in Texas. All of the school's majors incorporate some online classes, and the university provides many fully online degree options.

SHSU's fully online programs include 18 bachelor's and 30 master's programs. The university also offers certificates and two doctorates in education. Bachelor's and master's degree options include majors in the social sciences, criminal justice, business, and communication. Additional master's degree options include library science, mathematics, education, band studies, digital forensics, and sustainable agriculture.

Bachelor's students can choose from a variety of minors. Learners can design their own bachelor's curriculum by combining three minors into a single degree through SHSU's bachelor of science in integrated studies program. SHSU offers a solid education to students who enroll in exchange for about $10,760 per year in tuition costs. This school has a graduation rate of 75% for first-time students earning their undergrad degrees. It will take you four years to earn your undergraduate degree at this school.

One of the leading colleges in Texas' central region, Tarleton State University is part of the Texas A&M University System. Tarleton enrolls students online, at its main campus in Stephenville, and at four additional campuses statewide. Founded in 1899, Tarleton was named in honor of Texas settler John Tarleton, an early benefactor of the school.

Tarleton offers online programs at the bachelor's, master's, and certificate levels. Applicants to the university's bachelor's programs must have fulfilled lower-division requirements through previous college courses, professional training, or military experience.

Undergraduate and graduate options include degrees in business, psychology, information technology, engineering, nursing, and criminal justice. Bachelor's students can major in kinesiology, health professions technology, and veterinary technology. Graduate students can pursue degrees in education, English, agriculture, and public administration. Distance learners receive online access to academic advising and career counseling. Tarleton State University has a graduation rate of about 65% for first-time students pursuing their bachelor’s degrees. At this university, an undergraduate degree will take you four years to complete. Tuition costs, on average, about $10,330 per year.

Based in the small East Texas city of Longview, LETU is a private Christian institution. Emphasizing applied sciences and career preparation, LETU is one of a handful of dedicated polytechnic colleges in Texas.

LETU offers many associate, bachelor's, and master's programs fully online. Undergraduate students can major in computer science, criminal justice, human services, business, aviation, education, theology, and psychology. A bachelor's program in interdisciplinary studies features an option to prepare for Texas teacher certification. Master's degrees include options in education, business, counseling, healthcare administration, and leadership.

Distance learners take most courses in an accelerated five-week format. LETU provides online tutoring. Distance learners pay significantly lower tuition rates than on-campus students. Online tuition rates vary based on the student's program and transfer credits, but distance learners typically pay less than half of the on-campus rate. LeTourneau University is a private school with an overall graduation rate of 63%. The tuition at this school costs, on average, about $32,490 per year. It will take about four years for you to complete your undergraduate degree at this school.

Enrolling more than 40,000 students annually, Texas Tech is one of the largest colleges in Texas. The Lubbock-based university launched off-site courses in 1966 and today offers more than 80 remote programs.

Texas Tech delivers online programs in a variety of disciplines. Bachelor's-level offerings include programs in education, business, humanities, social sciences, and agriculture. The university also offers its unique wind science program online. Students interested in interdisciplinary studies can design their own major through programs in general studies and university studies. Texas Tech offers master's and doctoral programs in many fields, including library science, engineering, computer science, healthcare, and performing arts.

Online students pay in-state tuition rates regardless of residency and may be eligible for institutional scholarships. Texas Tech offers several scholarships for transfer students. Texas Tech has a retention rate of 87% for first-time undergrad students, and Texas residents can expect to pay about $11,600 a year for tuition. As with most other undergraduate programs, it will take four years to earn your bachelor’s degree at this school.

Located in the northeastern part of the state, TAMUC is a member of the Texas A&M University System. The public university enrolls students at its main campus and through six satellite locations and online division. TAMUC awards more than $72 million in financial aid annually.

Students searching for Texas online programs can choose from bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs from TAMUC. Learners with up to 85 transfer credits can pursue individualized bachelor's programs in applied arts and general studies. Students typically complete these interdisciplinary degrees in about two years. Other fully online bachelor's degree options include programs in criminal justice, organizational leadership, and agribusiness.

TAMUC offers online graduate programs in fields including education, social sciences, humanities, science, and business. The university also offers hybrid programs at all levels. Distance learners can access online library resources and career counseling. TAMUC has a graduation rate of 63% for first-time students seeking their undergraduate degree, and an average yearly tuition rate of about $9,820 for Texas residents. It will take you about four years to finish your degree at this school.

Based in the state's capital city, Concordia is a private Lutheran-affiliated university. The institution enrolls about 2,500 students annually online and at its 389-acre Austin campus. One of the most affordable private colleges in Texas, Concordia awards institutional scholarships to all incoming students.

Concordia offers a curated roster of online programs, with seven undergraduate options and 10 master's programs. Bachelor's students choose from programs in business, communication, computer science, criminal justice, psychology, and multidisciplinary studies. Eight master of education programs prepare graduates for a variety of administrative and specialized education careers. Concordia also awards master's degrees in business and public health.

Concordia provides virtual tutoring, and students can also consult online library resources and job boards. All Concordia students must complete six credits of biblical studies. A Concordia University Texas bachelor’s degree will take you four years to finish. The graduation rate at this school is about 68% for first-time students pursuing their undergrad. Tuition at Concordia averages about $33,800 per year, which is quite a bit more expensive than the other schools listed.