Best Economics Schools in Texas

Texas has 16 colleges offering Economics programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 1,127 recent graduates. Graduates earn $47,607 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $48,383.

School choice matters significantly: Rice University graduates earn $72,884 while Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi graduates earn $35,060 — a $37,824 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.

Schools in TX

$47,607

TX Avg. Earnings

$48,383

National Avg.

449

Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Economics in Texas

Public Schools (10)

$42,778

avg. 2yr earnings

Private Schools (6)

$55,656

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $12,878 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.

Economics Schools in Texas, Ranked by Earnings

Rice University

Houston, TX · Private

$72,884

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $87,989

Graduates: 40

Acceptance: 7.9%

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX · Private

$62,012

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $50,628

Graduates: 61

Acceptance: 61.2%

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, TX · Private

$55,286

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $55,051

Graduates: 73

Acceptance: 42.6%

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public

$54,238

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $50,245

Graduates: 367

Acceptance: 29.1%

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX · Public

$49,814

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $47,856

Graduates: 191

Acceptance: 63.2%

University of Dallas

Irving, TX · Private

$47,260

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $39,179

Graduates: 19

Acceptance: 54.2%

University of Houston

Houston, TX · Public

$40,768

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $42,417

Graduates: 114

Acceptance: 69.5%

The University of Texas at Dallas

Richardson, TX · Public

$42,682

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $44,411

Graduates: 41

Acceptance: 65.5%

The University of Texas at Arlington

Arlington, TX · Public

$50,856

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $44,032

Graduates: 40

Acceptance: 81.3%

#10

Texas State University

San Marcos, TX · Public

$36,674

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $35,227

Graduates: 30

Acceptance: 89.5%

#11

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, TX · Public

$44,970

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $43,863

Graduates: 102

Acceptance: 70.9%

#12

Austin College

Sherman, TX · Private

University of North Texas

Denton, TX · Public

$43,575

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $41,660

Graduates: 30

Acceptance: 72.5%

#14

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Edinburg, TX · Public

$29,141

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,592

Graduates: 19

Acceptance: 84.8%

#15

Trinity University

San Antonio, TX · Private

Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, TX · Public

$35,060

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 89.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Economics in Texas?

Rice University ranks #1 for Economics in Texas with median graduate earnings of $72,884 within two years of graduation. There are 16 schools offering Economics programs in the state.

How much do Economics graduates earn in Texas?

Economics graduates in Texas earn an average of $47,607 within two years of graduation. This is 2% below the national average of $48,383 for this major.

What is the hardest Economics school to get into in Texas?

Rice University is the most selective Economics program in Texas with an acceptance rate of 7.9%. The average acceptance rate across Economics programs in the state is 59.8%.

Should I attend a public or private school for Economics in Texas?

In Texas, private Economics programs produce average earnings of $55,656 vs $42,778 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 10 public and 6 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in Texas

Chemical Engineering $70,069 Architectural Engineering $69,338 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering $68,562 Construction Engineering $68,139 Computer Engineering $65,273 Industrial Engineering $64,917 Computer Science $64,839 Construction Engineering Technologies $63,237

All colleges in Texas →

Economics in Other States

New York California Pennsylvania Massachusetts Ohio Illinois Virginia Michigan Minnesota Wisconsin New Jersey Connecticut View All →

Get Economics Career Insights

We're building major-specific salary reports with ROI analysis by school. Be the first to get yours.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release.