Top 3 Data Science Programs in Texas 2025
University of Texas at Austin
Top public data science program with direct access to Austin's booming tech scene and Dell Technologies partnerships
Rice University
Elite private program with 6:1 student-faculty ratio and strong connections to Houston's energy data analytics sector
Texas A&M University
Large research university with comprehensive data science curriculum and strong alumni network in Dallas-Fort Worth
- 1.Texas has 60+ accredited data science and analytics bachelor's programs across UT system, private universities, and regional institutions
- 2.UT Austin ranks #1 in Texas with 87% graduation rate and direct pipeline to Austin tech companies like Dell, IBM, and Oracle
- 3.Texas data scientists earn median $112,850 annually with no state income tax—increasing effective salary by 8-13%
- 4.Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston metros provide 45,000+ data science jobs across tech, energy, and healthcare sectors
- 5.In-state tuition at top public programs averages $11,900—significantly lower than California or northeastern alternatives
Data Science Education Landscape in Texas
Texas offers one of the most robust data science education environments in the country, combining world-class public universities, prestigious private institutions, and a rapidly growing tech economy. With no state income tax and major tech hubs in Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston, Texas provides exceptional value for data science students.
The state's data science programs benefit from strong industry partnerships with companies like Dell Technologies, ExxonMobil, Texas Instruments, and emerging tech startups. Students have access to internships at Fortune 500 companies and cutting-edge research opportunities in energy analytics, healthcare informatics, and financial technology.
For national context, see our best data science bachelor's programs ranking. Students considering online options should review our best online data science degrees guide. Career-focused students can explore our data scientist salary breakdown for Texas-specific compensation data.
Based on 20 programs from IPEDS 2023, BLS OEWS Texas May 2024, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
6-year completion rate from IPEDS 2023 data
Class size and faculty accessibility indicators
Texas-specific salary data from BLS OEWS and employment rates
Research output, industry partnerships, and selectivity
Texas Data Science Bachelor's Programs Rankings 2025
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Texas at Austin | Austin | Public | $11,448 | 87% | 17:1 | 94.8 |
| 2 | Rice University | Houston | Private | $58,128 | 94% | 6:1 | 93.2 |
| 3 | Texas A&M University | College Station | Public | $12,413 | 82% | 20:1 | 90.7 |
| 4 | University of Houston | Houston | Public | $11,456 | 65% | 22:1 | 87.9 |
| 5 | Southern Methodist University | Dallas | Private | $61,980 | 82% | 11:1 | 87.3 |
| 6 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock | Public | $12,097 | 64% | 21:1 | 85.1 |
| 7 | Baylor University | Waco | Private | $54,844 | 78% | 14:1 | 84.6 |
| 8 | UT Dallas | Richardson | Public | $14,564 | 71% | 24:1 | 83.8 |
| 9 | Texas Christian University | Fort Worth | Private | $53,980 | 79% | 13:1 | 82.9 |
| 10 | UT Arlington | Arlington | Public | $11,756 | 56% | 26:1 | 80.5 |
| 11 | Texas State University | San Marcos | Public | $11,863 | 58% | 23:1 | 79.2 |
| 12 | University of North Texas | Denton | Public | $12,485 | 55% | 27:1 | 78.6 |
| 13 | Texas A&M Commerce | Commerce | Public | $9,528 | 48% | 19:1 | 76.9 |
| 14 | Sam Houston State | Huntsville | Public | $11,226 | 52% | 21:1 | 76.1 |
| 15 | Stephen F. Austin State | Nacogdoches | Public | $11,684 | 49% | 20:1 | 75.4 |
| 16 | UT San Antonio | San Antonio | Public | $10,842 | 42% | 25:1 | 74.7 |
| 17 | Texas A&M Corpus Christi | Corpus Christi | Public | $11,194 | 46% | 19:1 | 73.8 |
| 18 | Lamar University | Beaumont | Public | $10,872 | 41% | 18:1 | 72.5 |
| 19 | UT Tyler | Tyler | Public | $9,618 | 44% | 17:1 | 71.9 |
| 20 | Prairie View A&M | Prairie View | Public | $10,742 | 38% | 16:1 | 70.2 |
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas • University
Program Highlights
- • Students work on real industry datasets through capstone projects with local companies
- • Optional co-op program provides 6-month paid internships at major tech employers
- • Research opportunities in energy analytics, healthcare informatics, and autonomous vehicle data
- • Career services specifically focused on Austin tech market with 95% job placement rate
Program Strengths
- Comprehensive curriculum covering statistics, machine learning, data visualization, and big data technologies
- Direct industry partnerships with Dell Technologies, IBM Austin, Oracle, and emerging AI startups
- Access to Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) for large-scale data processing research
- 87% graduation rate with average starting salaries of $85,000 in Austin metro area
- Strong alumni network in Austin tech scene including data scientists at Facebook, Google, and Amazon
Why Ranked #1
UT Austin leads Texas data science education with exceptional career outcomes, strong industry partnerships, and access to one of the nation's fastest-growing tech hubs. The program combines rigorous academics with practical experience through internships at Dell Technologies, IBM, Oracle, and hundreds of Austin startups.
Rice University
Houston, Texas • University
Program Highlights
- • Students complete industry-sponsored capstone projects with energy and healthcare companies
- • Access to state-of-the-art visualization labs and high-performance computing clusters
- • Internship programs with major Houston employers including ExxonMobil and Texas Medical Center
- • Strong alumni network in energy sector data analytics and quantitative finance
Program Strengths
- Small class sizes with 6:1 student-faculty ratio enabling close mentorship relationships
- Specialized tracks in energy analytics, biomedical informatics, and financial data science
- Partnership with Texas Medical Center for healthcare data science applications
- 94% graduation rate with median starting salaries of $92,000
- Research collaborations with ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Houston Methodist Hospital
Why Ranked #2
Rice University offers an elite data science program combining academic excellence with Houston's unique position as an energy and healthcare data hub. The intimate 6:1 student-faculty ratio ensures personalized attention while strong industry connections provide exceptional career opportunities.
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas • University
Program Highlights
- • Research opportunities in agricultural data science, engineering analytics, and social media mining
- • Internship partnerships with AT&T, Texas Instruments, and Lockheed Martin
- • Career services with dedicated data science industry connections
- • Study abroad programs focusing on international data science applications
Program Strengths
- Large-scale research university resources including supercomputing facilities
- Comprehensive curriculum with options for specialization in business analytics or scientific computing
- Strong industry partnerships in Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex
- Affordable tuition at $12,413 for in-state students with 82% graduation rate
- Extensive alumni network providing mentorship and job opportunities across Texas
Why Ranked #3
Texas A&M provides excellent value in data science education with comprehensive resources, strong research opportunities, and extensive alumni network. The program balances theoretical foundations with practical applications, preparing graduates for diverse data science careers.
Texas University Systems for Data Science
Texas offers data science programs through multiple university systems, each with distinct strengths and characteristics. Understanding these systems helps students choose the best fit for their academic goals and career objectives.
The University of Texas System provides the state's flagship data science programs, with UT Austin leading in research and industry connections, UT Dallas strong in technical specializations, and regional campuses like UT San Antonio and UT Arlington serving local markets with growing programs.
- UT System: Flagship programs at Austin and Dallas with strong research focus and industry partnerships
- Texas A&M System: Comprehensive programs with agricultural and engineering data applications
- Texas State University System: Regional programs serving local markets with practical, career-focused curricula
- Private Universities: Rice, SMU, Baylor, and TCU offering smaller programs with personalized attention
For students considering related programs, Texas also excels in computer science, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity education. Those interested in skill-based learning can explore data science bootcamps and data analytics certifications.
Career Paths
Apply statistical analysis and machine learning to extract insights from large datasets for business decision-making.
Design and implement ML systems and algorithms for production environments and real-time applications.
Data Analyst
Collect, process, and analyze data to support business intelligence and operational decision-making.
Business Intelligence Developer
Build dashboards, reports, and data visualization tools to support organizational analytics needs.
Quantitative Analyst
Apply mathematical and statistical methods to financial data for risk assessment and trading strategies.
Data Science Programs by State
California
New York
Florida
Massachusetts
Illinois
Washington
Texas Data Science Program Cost Comparison
| Factor | Public In-State | Public Out-of-State | Private |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Tuition | $11,900 | $26,400 | $56,200 |
| Room & Board | $11,500 | $11,500 | $13,800 |
| Total Annual Cost | $23,400 | $37,900 | $70,000 |
| 4-Year Total | $93,600 | $151,600 | $280,000 |
| Average Class Size | 22-27 students | 22-27 students | 12-18 students |
| Research Opportunities | Extensive | Extensive | Limited but focused |
| Industry Connections | Strong | Strong | Very Strong |
Which Should You Choose?
- No state income tax increasing effective salary by 8-13%
- Access to growing tech hubs in Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Houston
- Affordable tuition at excellent public universities like UT Austin and Texas A&M
- Industry connections in energy, healthcare, and technology sectors
- Warm climate and relatively low cost of living compared to California or Northeast
- Strong job market with 4,200+ annual data science openings across major metros
- Maximum program prestige (California has Stanford, MIT is in Massachusetts)
- Specialized research in certain domains (some niche areas stronger elsewhere)
- Specific climate preferences (some prefer four seasons or coastal environments)
- Particular industry focus (fintech concentrated in New York, biotech in Massachusetts)
- Different cultural environment or specific lifestyle preferences
- Family connections or existing networks in other regions
Source: Based on median data scientist salary of $112,850 and neighboring state tax rates
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Data Science Programs
Explore More Data Science Resources
Data Sources and Methodology
Federal database providing graduation rates, tuition costs, and enrollment data for all accredited institutions
Official salary and employment data for data scientists and related occupations in Texas
State agency data on program approval, transfer agreements, and student outcomes
Federal education statistics including completion rates and program characteristics
Taylor Rupe
Full-Stack Developer (B.S. Computer Science, B.A. Psychology)
Taylor combines formal training in computer science with a background in human behavior to evaluate complex search, AI, and data-driven topics. His technical review ensures each article reflects current best practices in semantic search, AI systems, and web technology.