Introduction
Figuring out a College to attend in Texas can be difficult as there are a lot of factors to consider. Researching the number of Colleges in the state and arming yourself with information about them is crucial. Let’s discuss how many colleges are in Texas.
Public Colleges in Texas State are over 100( including the 34 Colleges belonging to the six University System in Texas and over 50 Community Colleges). For-profit Private Universities are over 80, Non-profit Private Universities at over 70 and several other minor categories that become harder to pin-point. Considering a chunk of research, we can estimate over 400 Colleges in Texas.
Different Types of Colleges In Texas
Deciding what College to go to is usually based on a lot of factors like finance, scholarship grants, courses offered etc. The state of Texas has different types of Colleges that will cater to your needs( that may or may not be based on the above mentioned factors). Let us discuss the types of Colleges further:
- Public Colleges
These are Government funded Colleges. They usually have lower tuition and are bigger in terms of size when compared to Private Colleges. They are mostly also Non-profit Colleges, in the sense that the tuition fee collected goes back into the growth and development of the College and also towards the payment of Salaries of staff.
They have in-state tuition and are required to admit more students from Texas State, so any University under this category will be a good fit for Locals and a bad fit for International Students as they would have to pay a higher tuition fee.
They also consist of Public Community Colleges. A Public Community College is one that offers undergraduate programs that take just two years to complete as opposed to traditional Colleges that take four years to complete the programs.
- Private Colleges
These are Colleges founded with the aim of making profit. They are Privately owned i.e. not owned by the Government. They are also funded by large donations from individuals. Their tuition is usually higher as they have to pay the Salaries of staff and also make a profit.
They offer fewer undergraduate programs compared to Public Colleges and they are smaller in terms of size and classroom space. They do not have in-state tuition but they tend to have better financial-aid packages.
- Research Colleges
These are Colleges that could be either public or private. They were founded with research as a principal part of their goal. Due to their popularity and the number of admission hopefuls, they could be really hard Colleges to get accepted into.
- Historically Black Colleges
These are Colleges that were founded with the aim of providing Education for the African-American Community during the slavery era as education was inaccessible to them. They were formed before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the state of Texas is home to about 9 of them; Paul Quinn College, Wiley College, Huston-Tillotson University, Prairie View A&M University, Texas College, St. Philip’s College, Jarvis Christian College, Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law and Southwestern Christian College.
- Liberal Arts Colleges
These are Colleges that were founded with the aim of encouraging critical thinking, free thinking and communication in students. They focus solely on the education of their students which creates close relationships between the Students and the Professors. They are usually small with most of their students living on campus.
What is the Texas University System?
The University of Texas System is an establishment of the American Government that aims to improve the lives of students in Texas. It consists of over 13 research and health institutions and there are also six University Systems which are University of Houston, University of North Texas, Texas A&M University, Texas State University and Texas Tech University. These University Systems also have Colleges under every one of them.
Are Public Colleges better than Private Colleges?
Public Universities Colleges cannot be said to be better than Private Colleges as the basis of establishing both types of Colleges are different. Public Colleges have relatively cheaper tuition fees so they may look better but remember that Private Universities have better financial-aid packages and also encourage one-on-one learning due to their smaller size. Basically, your needs as a student will determine if a Public or Private College is better suited to you as they both have advantages and disadvantages.
Can and should International Students school in Texas?
Yes, International Students can school in Texas provided they meet the requirements of the College of their choice. International Students that may not be able to live on campus would not have to spend a fortune on accommodation as Texas has a relatively low cost of living. Texas is a relatively friendly place and has readily available Jobs for International graduates.
Are Universities in Texas Racially and Ethnically Diverse?
Yes, most of the Colleges in Texas are Racially and Ethnically diverse. Most of these Colleges accept students from all over the world and they also promote inclusion and equality amongst students. There are also activities like community art projects put in place to ensure that students of a particular race or ethnic group learn about other races or ethnic groups. Also the project-based learning method encourages the collaboration of students from different races.
When compared to other States, what is the cost of living in Texas for Students?
The cost of living in Texas is quite modest compared to other States. It is 7% lower than the US average which makes it an ideal study destination for Students. Staying on campus in Public Colleges for Students in Texas costs about 5,175 dollars which is significantly lower than the national average 6,227 dollars; perfect for students looking to save money. Feeding is also relatively cheap in Texas and students from Texas can also benefit from the Feeding Organization in Texas.
Conclusion
Student or not, we are certain that you have gained quite a lot of knowledge from this informative read. We encourage you to read blogs and articles on different sites on the internet that relate to the topic as learning can never be too much. In the words of Steve Jobs “Learn continually- there is always one more thing to learn”.