Texas has over 120 accredited universities — and tuition costs vary wildly between them. If you’re an international student trying to minimize debt while getting a quality U.S. degree, choosing the right Texas university can save you $10,000 to $30,000 per year compared to the wrong choice.

This guide ranks the 10 most affordable options based on actual tuition and fees, includes scholarship opportunities that reduce costs further, and links to our full guide for each university.

One important note: international student tuition at public universities is typically higher than in-state rates — but Texas has several mechanisms (competitive scholarship waivers, Good Neighbor scholarships, and tuition advantage programs) that can bring those costs down dramatically. We cover all of them below.

Quick Comparison — Cheapest Texas Universities for International Students

Note: “After Best Scholarship” figures reflect the lowest realistic tuition after the best available scholarship for international students is applied. Actual amounts depend on eligibility. Always confirm current rates directly with the university.

1. Sul Ross State University — $7,592/Year (In-State Rate via Good Neighbor)

Location: Alpine, Texas | Type: Public | Acceptance Rate: ~99%

Sul Ross State University has the lowest base tuition of any university on this list at $7,592/year for Texas residents. International students normally pay ~$17,672/year — but those who qualify for the Good Neighbor Scholarship (available to students from Western Hemisphere countries) pay the in-state rate instead, dropping tuition to $7,592/year.

Beyond cost, SRSU offers something genuinely unique: a 468-acre working ranch for hands-on animal science education, three active research centers (Borderlands Research Institute, Center for Big Bend Studies, Meadows Water Research Institute), and a campus 80 miles from Big Bend National Park. For students interested in agriculture, natural resource management, ecology, or environmental science, SRSU provides research access that large urban universities simply cannot match.

The Lobo Promise Program covers 100% of tuition and fees for eligible Texas residents with a household income of $80,000 or less. International students are not eligible for the Lobo Promise, but the Good Neighbor waiver is a comparable benefit for qualifying nationalities.

Best for: Agriculture, range science, natural resources, biology, criminal justice, education.

Scholarship to target: Good Neighbor Scholarship (Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board).

Application fee: $25 — lowest in Texas.

2. Midwestern State University — $9,950/Year (In-State Rate via Scholarship Waiver)

Location: Wichita Falls, Texas | Type: Public (Texas Tech System) | Acceptance Rate: ~93%

Midwestern State University charges international students approximately $22,910/year in tuition and fees — but any international student who receives a competitive scholarship of $1,000 or more qualifies to pay the Texas in-state rate of $9,950/year instead. MSU’s automatic merit scholarship system awards over $2 million each year to incoming students, making this waiver accessible to a wide range of applicants.

MSU is the only Texas public university that is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC) — a national consortium of selective public universities committed to rigorous undergraduate education. The AACSB-accredited Dillard College of Business and ABET-accredited engineering programs are additional differentiators. Average class sizes are small, and the 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio means real access to professors.

Best for: Business (AACSB), engineering, nursing, health sciences, education.

Scholarship to target: Automatic merit scholarship (apply by March 1) + competitive waiver.

Key Program: AACSB MBA at a public university with in-state tuition — rare combination.

3. Lamar University — $8,642/Year For Graduate International Students

Location: Beaumont, Texas | Type: Public (Texas State System) | Acceptance Rate: ~86%

Lamar University has a standout offer specifically for graduate international students: most receive an out-of-state tuition waiver plus a $1,000 general scholarship, bringing their effective tuition down to the Texas resident graduate rate of $8,642/year. This makes Lamar one of the most affordable graduate education options in Texas for international students — and the AACSB-accredited MBA can be completed in as little as 12 months.

For undergraduates, international tuition is ~$20,085/year before scholarships. Any student receiving a competitive scholarship of $1,000+ qualifies for the in-state tuition rate under Texas law.

Lamar’s location in Beaumont — in the heart of the Texas Gulf Coast petrochemical corridor — gives engineering students direct access to one of the most concentrated industrial job markets in the world. ExxonMobil, Total Energies, Chevron Phillips, and Air Liquide all operate within commuting distance of campus. The engineering college is consistently ranked in the top 5 in the U.S. for return on investment.

Best for: Engineering (especially chemical, industrial), MBA, nursing, criminal justice.

Scholarship to target: Graduate Studies Award (out-of-state waiver) — most international grad students receive this automatically.

Application fee: $25 for graduate applicants — lowest among Texas public universities.

4. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley — $9,799/Year via Good Neighbor

Location: Edinburg, Texas | Type: Public (UT System) | Acceptance Rate: ~88%

UTRGV is the second-largest Hispanic-Serving Institution in the United States and one of the fastest-growing universities in the UT System. Listed international tuition is ~$37,077/year — but the Good Neighbor Scholarship brings this down to the Texas resident rate of $9,799/year for eligible students from Western Hemisphere countries.

The UTRGV Tuition Advantage Program is the most generous free tuition program in Texas: students with family AGI of $125,000 or less get full tuition covered after all other aid is applied. This applies to domestic students — international students are generally not eligible, but the Good Neighbor waiver effectively creates the same benefit for qualifying nationalities.

UTRGV’s location on the Texas-Mexico border creates genuine bilingual research and career opportunities unavailable at any other university in this guide. The Smart Hospital simulation center — 15,000 sq ft with a full ICU, ER, and birthing room — gives nursing and health professions students clinical training most universities cannot offer.

Best for: Health professions, nursing, business, engineering, bilingual education.

Scholarship to target: Good Neighbor Scholarship + UTRGV International Student Scholarship ($500–$700/semester).

Unique feature: SpaceX launch site in nearby Boca Chica — aerospace engineering opportunities.

5. Tarleton State University — $10,180/Year via Competitive Scholarship Waiver

Location: Stephenville, Texas | Type: Public (Texas A&M System) | Acceptance Rate: ~71–94%

Tarleton State University is a member of the prestigious Texas A&M University System and offers international students a clear path to in-state tuition rates: receive a competitive scholarship of $1,000 or more, and you qualify to pay Texas resident tuition of $10,180/year instead of the international rate of ~$22,480/year.

Tarleton’s scholarship system is one of the most student-friendly in Texas — submit one general scholarship application, and you’re automatically matched against 600+ scholarships. The university awards over $106 million in financial aid annually, and 80% of students receive some form of assistance. For international students, the Good Neighbor Scholarship is also available through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The Fort Worth campus (65 miles from the main Stephenville campus) gives students access to the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex job market while maintaining the cost advantages of studying at a smaller regional university.

Best for: Agriculture, business (AACSB), nursing, criminal justice, engineering.

Scholarship to target: 600+ scholarships via single application (deadline February 15) + Non-Resident Tuition Waiver.

Texas A&M System benefit: System-wide resources, employer networks, research infrastructure.

6. Texas Tech University — $11,852/Year via Presidential Scholarship

Location: Lubbock, Texas | Type: Public (R1 Research) | Acceptance Rate: ~71%

Texas Tech University is the largest and most research-intensive university on this list — an R1 doctoral research university with 40,000+ students and one of only 20 R1 universities in the U.S. that is also a Hispanic-Serving Institution. International tuition is ~$24,451/year, but the Presidential Scholarship provides a key benefit: recipients qualify to pay Texas in-state tuition of $11,852/year regardless of residency status.

Presidential Scholarships are automatically considered with your admissions application — no separate application needed — and are tiered based on high school class rank and test scores. The priority deadline is December 1. Additionally, any student receiving a competitive scholarship of $1,000+ qualifies for in-state rates under Texas law.

TTU’s location in Lubbock — affordable cost of living, a genuine college town atmosphere — further stretches scholarship dollars. The Rawls College of Business (AACSB), Whitacre College of Engineering (ABET), and the only campus in Texas where the main university, law school, and medical school all share grounds make TTU an academically rich choice at a relatively low net cost.

Best for: Engineering, business, energy/petroleum, law (pre-law), sciences, agriculture.

Scholarship to target: Presidential Scholarship (apply by December 1, automatic consideration).

Unique feature: Patrick Mahomes played quarterback here — serious Big 12 athletics culture.

7. Wayland Baptist University — ~$15,000/Year via Pioneer Scholarship

Location: Plainview, Texas (+ 7 state campuses + Kenya + Online) | Type: Private | Acceptance Rate: ~54–70%

Wayland Baptist University charges $23,782/year in tuition for its Plainview campus. The Pioneer Scholarship — automatically considered with your admissions application based on GPA or test scores — reduces this significantly, with the highest-tier awards bringing tuition down to approximately $15,000/year or less depending on academic profile.

WBU’s most distinctive features are its global campus network (7 U.S. states + Kenya + fully online) and its 92% graduate employment rate within one year. The Terra Scholarship is specifically designated for international business students — established by a Brazilian student who came to WBU on a basketball scholarship, earned his accounting and MBA degrees, and founded the scholarship with his wife (a Flying Queens basketball player) as a way of giving back.

Online undergraduate tuition at WBU is just $10,824/year — making the online program one of the most affordable at any SACSCOC-accredited private university in the country.

Best for: Business, education, criminal justice, ministry, online learners, military students.

Scholarship to target: Pioneer Scholarship (automatic) + Terra Scholarship (international business students).

Unique feature: Flying Queens basketball — most wins in collegiate basketball history.

8. Lubbock Christian University — ~$16,000/Year via Merit Scholarship

Location: Lubbock, Texas | Type: Private (Churches of Christ) | Acceptance Rate: ~85–90%

Lubbock Christian University charges $28,540/year in tuition — but 97% of full-time students receive institutional grants averaging $11,039, and merit scholarships bring effective tuition down considerably. The flagship F.W. Mattox Presidential Scholar Award covers full tuition, fees, room, and board for up to four years for the most academically outstanding students.

For international students specifically, the Mission Field Discount reduces tuition by 50% for dependent students whose parents are actively serving as full-time missionaries — a significant and often overlooked benefit. The Good Neighbor Scholarship is also available to qualifying Latin American students through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

LCU’s nursing program is ACEN-accredited and consistently produces graduates with strong NCLEX pass rates. The university’s location in Lubbock — shared with Texas Tech University — gives students access to a genuine college city at a private university price that merit scholarships make competitive.

Best for: Nursing, business (MBA), education, design, and visual communications.

Scholarship to target: F.W. Mattox Presidential Scholar (full ride) + Good Neighbor + Mission Field Discount.

Key fact: 97% of full-time students receive institutional grant aid.

9. Texas Wesleyan University — ~$16,934/Year via Automatic $21,000 Scholarship

Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Type: Private (United Methodist) | Acceptance Rate: ~61%

Texas Wesleyan University has listed tuition of ~$37,934/year — one of the higher sticker prices on this list. But TXWES offsets this with an automatic $21,000 annual scholarship for eligible international students enrolled full-time, bringing effective tuition down to approximately $16,934/year with no separate application required.

TXWES’s location in Fort Worth — embedded in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex — is a major practical advantage. The DFW area is one of the fastest-growing metro regions in the U.S., with major employers across aviation, defense, finance, healthcare, and technology. Students at TXWES have internship and career access that universities in smaller Texas cities simply cannot match.

The School of Health Professions offers a Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia (MSNA) and a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) — a direct pathway into one of the highest-paying healthcare careers in the U.S. (CRNAs earn median salaries above $200,000). The School of Law (ABA-accredited) and the 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio round out TXWES’s appeal for students who want urban access with a small-campus feel.

Best for: Nursing (especially nurse anesthesia), business, law, computer science, education.

Scholarship to target: Automatic $21,000 international scholarship — confirm eligibility at internationaladmissions@txwes.edu.

Key advantage: DFW Metroplex location = best metro job market access on this list.

10. Dallas Baptist University — ~$27,870/Year via International Aid

Location: Dallas, Texas | Type: Private (Christian) | Acceptance Rate: ~91%

Dallas Baptist University has the highest listed tuition on this list at ~$41,870/year. However, 94% of full-time students receive institutional grant aid averaging $12,111, and the International Academic Scholarship ($8,000–$14,000/year) specifically targets international undergraduates, bringing effective tuition down to approximately $27,870/year for qualifying students.

DBU’s strongest selling point is location: the campus is less than 30 minutes from downtown Dallas and DFW International Airport. Major Dallas employers, including AT&T, Lockheed Martin, Fidelity Investments, and Boeing, recruit directly from DBU’s campus. For international students who want to maximize U.S. career exposure during their studies, Dallas puts them in the right city.

The university’s 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio and average class size of 13 students create a personalized learning environment unusual for a Dallas-based institution. DBU also offers 19 accelerated bachelor’s-to-master’s programs — allowing students to complete both degrees in five years, which is valuable for international students managing F-1 visa timelines.

Best for: Business (MBA), nursing, education, criminal justice, computer science.

Scholarship to target: International Academic Scholarship ($8,000–$14,000/year) + Christian Leadership Scholarship ($7,000–$12,000).

Key advantage: Best Dallas city access on this list — major employer recruiting on campus.

3 Ways to Reduce Your Tuition at Any Texas University

1. Good Neighbor Scholarship — Full Tuition Waiver

The Texas Good Neighbor Scholarship is administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and provides a complete tuition exemption at any Texas public university for eligible students from Western Hemisphere countries (excluding Cuba and the U.S.).

Students must be unconditionally admitted, not apply for U.S. residency, and intend to return to their home country after completing their degree. Across Texas, 235 awards are made annually — competition is real, but so is the reward. Available at: Sul Ross, UTRGV, Texas Tech, Tarleton, MSU, Lamar, and all other Texas public universities.

2. Competitive Scholarship = In-State Tuition Rate

Texas law allows any student — domestic or international — who receives a competitive scholarship of $1,000 or more per year to pay Texas in-state tuition rates instead of out-of-state rates. This is one of the most underused financial aid mechanisms available. The scholarship must be open to both Texas and non-Texas residents and awarded by an authorized committee. This waiver is available at Texas Tech, Tarleton, Midwestern State, Lamar, and all other Texas public institutions.

3. Apply Early — Scholarship Funds Run Out

At every university on this list, scholarship awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis up to the available budget. Priority deadlines range from December 1 (Texas Tech) to February 15 (Tarleton, Sul Ross) to March 1 (Midwestern State). Applying in August or September for the following fall is not too early — it puts you at the front of the scholarship queue.

Which Texas University Should You Choose?

Final Thoughts

Texas offers some of the most genuinely affordable university education in the United States — especially when you factor in the scholarship mechanisms that bring international tuition down to in-state levels. The Good Neighbor Scholarship, competitive scholarship tuition waivers, and institutional merit awards can cut your annual cost by $10,000–$30,000 compared to the listed price.

The key is applying early, targeting the right scholarships for your nationality and academic profile, and choosing a university whose programs align with your career goals — not just the one with the lowest sticker price. A $7,592/year tuition is only a good deal if the university has the programs and career connections you need.

Use the links throughout this guide to read our full breakdown of each university — including exact scholarship amounts, application deadlines, and program details.

Have questions about choosing between these universities or which scholarship you qualify for? Drop them in the comments below.