Soaring Tuition at Texas Division‑I Programs
The financial burden of attending a Division‑I program in Texas has risen sharply, with several private universities now charging more than $90,000 per year for full‑time, on‑campus undergraduate study before any aid is applied.
Rice University leads the list with a total cost of $97,309 for the 2026‑27 academic year, while other private schools such as Southern Methodist University, Baylor University and Texas Christian University also command premium tuition rates.
Public flagship institutions provide a comparatively affordable alternative, with the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University reporting tuition and fees around $32,500 and $31,200 respectively for the same period.
Enrollment Surge Across Texas Campuses
Fall 2025 enrollment across Texas higher education reached a record 1.6 million students, marking a 4.7 percent increase from the previous year. Growth was most pronounced at public universities, up 2.7 percent, and at two‑year colleges, which grew by 6.1 percent.
Over the past decade, public university enrollment has climbed from roughly 637,000 in 2016 to nearly 709,000 in 2025, while community college and vocational programs have rebounded strongly since 2021, posting a 16.7 percent increase from pandemic lows.
Student Debt Weighs Heavily on Borrowers
Texas residents collectively hold about $137.4 billion in student loan debt, translating to an average balance of $34,608 per borrower among roughly 3.9 million debt holders. This financial pressure accompanies growing demand for career‑focused pathways as students navigate concerns about AI’s impact on white‑collar jobs.