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Easiest colleges to get into in Texas

Updated Federal and Common Data Set numbers, each with its year

The short answer

The easiest four-year colleges to get into in Texas are Our Lady of the Lake University (open admission), Wiley University (open admission) and Texas College (open admission), by the share of applicants admitted.

A high acceptance rate means the college admits most people who apply. Open-admission colleges admit anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent. Each row also shows the average price after grants, so you can weigh the two.

The list (25 of 75)

Four-year colleges in Texas with 500 or more undergraduates, open-admission colleges first, then the highest acceptance rate. The list shows 25 of the 75 colleges with an acceptance rate or open admission on file. Rates come from IPEDS (fall 2024).

  1. Our Lady of the Lake University Open admission San Antonio, TX · Admits every applicant with a high school diploma. Average price after grants: $15,176 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, 2024-25
  2. Wiley University Open admission Marshall, TX · Admits every applicant with a high school diploma. Average price after grants: $6,125 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, 2024-25
  3. Texas College Open admission Tyler, TX · Admits every applicant with a high school diploma. Average price after grants: $12,603 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, 2024-25
  4. North American University Open admission Stafford, TX · Admits every applicant with a high school diploma. Average price after grants: $24,462 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, 2024-25
  5. Jarvis Christian University Open admission Hawkins, TX · Admits every applicant with a high school diploma. Average price after grants: $12,317 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, 2024-25
  6. Texas A&M University-Central Texas 100% admitted Killeen, TX · Average price after grants: $4,107 a year in-state, about $13,898 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  7. Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas 100% admitted Dallas, TX · Average price after grants: $29,318 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  8. Baptist Health System School of Health Professions 100% admitted San Antonio, TX · Average price after grants: $22,802 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  9. The University of Texas at El Paso 99.9% admitted El Paso, TX · Average price after grants: $6,803 a year in-state, about $22,141 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  10. West Texas A&M University 99% admitted Canyon, TX · Average price after grants: $17,909 a year in-state, about $33,074 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  11. Sul Ross State University 99% admitted Alpine, TX · Average price after grants: $16,255 a year in-state, about $26,335 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  12. University of the Incarnate Word 98% admitted San Antonio, TX · Average price after grants: $17,483 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  13. St. Mary's University 98% admitted San Antonio, TX · Average price after grants: $17,775 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  14. Texas Southern University 97% admitted Houston, TX · Average price after grants: $16,494 a year in-state, about $28,794 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  15. Texas Woman's University 96% admitted Denton, TX · Average price after grants: $11,060 a year in-state, about $20,780 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  16. Texas A&M University-Victoria 96% admitted Victoria, TX · Average price after grants: $8,115 a year in-state, about $17,835 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  17. University of Mary Hardin-Baylor 96% admitted Belton, TX · Average price after grants: $29,143 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  18. Texas Lutheran University 96% admitted Seguin, TX · Average price after grants: $20,716 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  19. The University of Texas Permian Basin 95% admitted Odessa, TX · Average price after grants: $5,070 a year in-state, about $17,670 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  20. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 94% admitted Edinburg, TX · Average price after grants: $4,858 a year in-state, about $14,578 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  21. Stephen F Austin State University 94% admitted Nacogdoches, TX · Average price after grants: $15,928 a year in-state, about $25,648 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  22. The University of Texas at Tyler 94% admitted Tyler, TX · Average price after grants: $13,476 a year in-state, about $28,924 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  23. Midwestern State University 94% admitted Wichita Falls, TX · Average price after grants: $11,793 a year in-state, about $23,943 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  24. Texas A&M University-San Antonio 93% admitted San Antonio, TX · Average price after grants: $14,298 a year in-state, about $27,914 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  25. East Texas A&M University 92% admitted Commerce, TX · Average price after grants: $13,974 a year in-state, about $26,124 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
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What are the easiest colleges to get into in Texas?

The easiest four-year colleges to get into in Texas are Our Lady of the Lake University (open admission), Wiley University (open admission) and Texas College (open admission), by the share of applicants admitted.

How many of these colleges have open admission?

5 of the 25 colleges listed have open admission: they admit anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent. The others admitted 92% to 100% of applicants.

How recent are these acceptance rates?

Each row shows its year. Rates come from IPEDS, the federal college survey, for students who applied for fall 2024, or from the college's own Common Data Set for fall 2025 where that is newer.

Numbers change each year when colleges and the Department of Education publish new data. Confirm costs and admission rules with the college before you apply.

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