As Texas high school football players in the Class of 2026 finalize commitments, the full cost of attending many Division I programs in the state has climbed sharply, with some private universities exceeding $90,000 per year for full-time, on-campus undergraduates before financial aid.
Estimated full-time on-campus undergraduate cost of attendance (COA) for D1 schools 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗶𝗱 pic.twitter.com/PfriAs3sIx
— Texas Football Life (@txfblife) May 13, 2026
These figures reportedly represent estimated total costs, including tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, travel, and miscellaneous expenses, for in-state, on-campus students. Actual amounts paid vary widely after scholarships, grants, and other aid.
Rice University lists its 2026-27 on-campus cost of attendance as $97,309. SMU reports $96,388. Baylor University aligns with the $90,482 published estimate. TCU comes in at $89,810. Public institutions such as Texas State University list $30,880, Texas Tech $29,783, and the University of North Texas $29,698.
Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin confirm figures near $31,000–$32,500 for in-state on-campus students. Lower-cost options include UT El Paso at $24,800 and East Texas A&M at $24,004.
Enrollment Trends
Texas higher education (public, private, and health-related institutions) enrollment reached a record 1.6 million+ students in fall 2025, up 4.7% from fall 2024 and surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Public universities grew by 2.7%, while two-year colleges grew by 6.1%, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board reported.
Over the past decade, public university enrollment increased from roughly 637,000 in 2016 to almost 709,000 in 2025 (an 11.3% increase). Growth has been strongest at institutions such as Tarleton State (up over 40% in some periods).
Community college and vocational enrollment have also rebounded strongly since 2021, with two-year public institutions up 16.7% from pandemic lows, according to a Texas A&M University System analysis of Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board data.
Post-High School Pathways
Texas high school graduates pursue both four-year universities and vocational or community college routes. Community colleges serve hundreds of thousands annually, offering shorter, career-focused programs in fields such as skilled trades, health care, and technical occupations. Recent data show strong recovery and growth in two-year enrollments, along with gains in four-year enrollments, according to the Texas Association of Community Colleges.
Vocational and trade programs have seen particularly strong demand. Enrollment in high vocational public two-year institutions rose 11.7% nationally in spring 2025, with Texas community colleges reporting similar upward trends in skilled trades and technical certificates.
Many students and families view these shorter, career-oriented pathways as safer routes amid rapid AI adoption in white-collar fields, offering faster entry into hands-on jobs that are less immediately exposed to automation.
Student Debt
According to SmartAsset’s 2026 State Student Debt Study, Texas residents hold approximately $137.4 billion in student loan debt, with an average of $34,608 per borrower across 3.9 million borrowers. About 12.69% of state residents carry such debt.
