The saying goes that “everything is bigger in Texas,” and that extends to the realm of education as well. The second largest state in the Union boasts an impressive 198 colleges and universities that bestow Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees upon students at a wide variety of institutions. The Lone Star state is home to some 24.7 million people and with schools spread out over nearly 268,500 square miles, students will find that Texas colleges offer them a variety of local areas and climates to choose from as they pursue a college degree.

Students considering attending a Texas college will find that the Lone Star state holds an immense variety of schools in locations that differ drastically from arid deserts to wide open plains and humid, coastal cities. With 198 colleges and universities to choose from, students will find that only three states have a higher concentration of higher learning institutions than Texas (California, New York, and Pennsylvania in order). A general breakdown of the higher learning institutions available in Texas include:

• 109 Public Institutions (42 four year institutions, 67 two year institutions)
• 89 Private Institutions (56 four year institutions, 33 two year institutions)
• Of the 42 Four Year Public Institutions: 12 offer a degree as high as the Doctorate level, 20 offer degrees up to a Master’s, and only 2 offer simply a Bachelor’s degree.
• Of the 56 Four Year Private Institutions: Four schools offer a degree as high as the Doctorate level, 14 offer up to a Masters, and 19 offer simply a Bachelor’s degree.

A comprehensive list of Texas colleges would take enough pages to fill up a book of listed in order, but a general breakdown of the colleges available to students can be found below. Students will find that the Lone Star state has one of the most diverse listings of colleges and universities available, an almost unavoidable fact with 198 schools located in one state. The breakdown of schools is as follows:

• Public Universities: There are six public universities that are part of the state system. The six institutions have a combined 46 campuses spread across the state.
• Independent Public Universities: Outside of the state run system, there are four Texas colleges that are independent public institutions.
• Technical Schools: Texas has one state run technical school system that consists of four campus locations
• Community/Junior Colleges: There are 94 communities or junior colleges available for students in Texas.

Prospective students will find Texas colleges spread throughout a number of the state’s biggest cities, all of which offer different climates, entertainment, and other social events. The largest cities in the state are listed below in order with the largest first:

• Houston (2.3 million)
• San Antonio (1.4 million)
• Dallas (1.3 million)
• Austin (786,382)
• Ft. Worth (727,575)

The state’s biggest city, Houston boasts a warm climate year round thanks to its coastal location on the Gulf of Mexico. Students will find the nightlife in Houston second to none in the state and with the beaches of Galveston nearby, there is plenty to do over long weekends and Holiday breaks. After graduation students will find a variety of booming business willing to hire with NASA located in Houston as well as many of the nation’s top energy companies.

San Antonio is one of the southernmost major cities in the United States and boasts a warm climate year round with very hot, very humid summers. The area is generally much drier than its counterparts in the state courtesy of its central and southern location. The city is popular for its Riverwalk attraction that features shops and restaurants along the banks of the San Antonio River as it winds through downtown San Antonio. Other attractions include The Alamo and Six Flags Fiesta Texas for students to pass the time. Upon graduation students will find that the government is one of the biggest employers in the area with six military installations located in and around the city.

Dallas comes in third on the list in population, but combining the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex together the area has the largest population of any metropolitan area in Texas. The Dallas-Ft. Worth area has it all to offer to college students. Sports enthusiasts will find one franchise from each of America’s professional sports located in the area as well as Six Flags Over Texas. With a humid, warm climate there is no shortage of good weather to get outside and relax in with free time. Graduates from one of the numerous Texas colleges in the area will find jobs in exciting sectors such as Information Technology (the biggest industry in the area), air travel, energy, and defense industries.

The last major city that houses a number of Texas colleges is the state capital of Austin. Austin’s climate is much like that of San Antonio as the two cities are just an hour apart from each other on Interstate 35. The capital city is home to the largest school in Texas and is renowned for its musical scene. Downtown Austin bustles with live music on a nightly basis and has a number of great pubs, restaurants, and night clubs to suit everyone. In a largely conservative state, Austin prides itself on an eclectic and liberal lifestyle, even going as far as adopting the slogan of “Keep Austin Weird.” Graduates will find work in many exciting industries ahead of them with four of America’s Fortune 500 companies calling the city home. These include Whole Foods Market, Freescale Semiconductor, Forestar Group, and Dell.

Students considering a Texas college will not be disappointed in their choice. Not only does the state boast a wide variety of colleges and universities located in many different climates and locales; graduates will not need to look far for work upon completion of their studies. The state of Texas is home to numerous large companies ranging from energy giants, to information technology and defense firms, to Fortune 500 companies. With the nation currently stuck in an economic downturn, Texas has the best employment figures of any state. This makes the choice of a college in Texas all the more attractive!