Best Engineering Schools in Texas: Where to Earn a Six-Figure Salary in Energy, Tech, and Aerospace
Introduction
Texas is home to 55+ ABET-accredited engineering programs, producing graduates who earn 85,000–85,000–150,000 starting salaries at companies like SpaceX, ExxonMobil, and Texas Instruments. This 2024 guide ranks the top engineering schools in Texas, reveals admission secrets for UT Austin and Texas A&M, and breaks down which programs deliver the highest ROI in booming industries like AI, petroleum, and robotics.
2024 Rankings: Top 10 Engineering Schools in Texas
| University | U.S. News Engineering Rank | Avg. Starting Salary | Top Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| UT Austin (Cockrell) | #6 nationally | $98,000 | Tesla, NASA, AMD |
| Texas A&M (Dwight Look) | #11 nationally | $92,000 | ExxonMobil, BP, Lockheed |
| Rice University (Brown) | #27 nationally | $105,000 | SpaceX, Chevron, McKinsey |
| UT Dallas (Erik Jonsson) | #58 nationally | $88,000 | Texas Instruments, Raytheon |
| Texas Tech (Whitacre) | #82 nationally | $82,000 | Bell Helicopter, Phillips 66 |
| University of Houston (Cullen) | #94 nationally | $78,000 | Shell, Dow Chemical |
| Baylor University | #122 nationally | $75,000 | Caterpillar, HPE |
| SMU (Lyle) | #135 nationally | $80,000 | AT&T, Toyota |
| UT Arlington | #140 nationally | $76,000 | GM, Fluor Corporation |
| Texas State University | Unranked | $68,000 | Dell, Samsung |
Key Insight: UT Austin and Texas A&M dominate rankings, but Rice University grads earn the highest starting salaries due to elite industry connections.
UT Austin Cockrell School of Engineering
- Best Programs: Petroleum Engineering (#1), Computer Engineering (#8), Robotics.
- Admission Stats: 18% acceptance rate, 1450 SAT median.
- Unique Perks: $500K+ in annual startup grants through the Texas Innovation Center.
- Notable Alumni: Michael Dell (Dell Technologies), Rex Tillerson (ExxonMobil CEO).
Pro Tip: Apply for the Texas Engineering Scholarship by November 1 for up to $20,000/year.
Texas A&M Dwight Look College of Engineering
- Best Programs: Nuclear Engineering (#1), Aerospace (#10), Chemical Engineering (#6).
- Admission Stats: 33% acceptance rate, 1300 SAT median.
- Unique Perks: 95% job placement rate via the SEC Career Fair (300+ employers).
- Notable Alumni: Michael K. Young (Boeing VP), Leland Melvin (NASA astronaut).
2024 Update: A&M’s RELLIS Campus offers a $200M advanced robotics lab.
Rice University George R. Brown School of Engineering
- Best Programs: Bioengineering (#12), AI/ML, Materials Science.
- Admission Stats: 9% acceptance rate, 1530 SAT median.
- Unique Perks: Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK) funds student prototypes.
- Notable Alumni: Fred Brooks (IBM System/360 architect), John Doerr (Kleiner Perkins).
Scholarship Alert: Rice Investment covers full tuition for families earning <$200K.
How to Get Into Top Texas Engineering Schools
- Aim for Top 10% Auto-Admit: UT Austin guarantees admission to Texas students in the top 6%.
- Show Engineering Passion: Build robots, code apps, or intern at firms like Tesla.
- Crush the SAT/ACT: UT Austin’s middle 50%: 1360–1520 SAT.
- Highlight Leadership: Texas A&M prioritizes Corps of Cadets or FFA involvement.
- Apply Early Action: Rice’s early decision acceptance rate is 18% vs. 8% regular.
In-State vs. Out-of-State Tuition Costs
| University | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| UT Austin | $11,500/year | $41,000/year |
| Texas A&M | $13,200/year | $40,600/year |
| UT Dallas | $15,000/year | $30,000/year |
| Rice University | $54,000/year | $54,000/year |
Note: Texas A&M’s “Hazlewood Act” waives tuition for veterans’ dependents.
ROI of Texas Engineering Degrees
| University | 20-Year Net ROI | Top Employers |
|---|---|---|
| UT Austin | $1.4M | Apple, NASA, Tesla |
| Texas A&M | $1.2M | ExxonMobil, BP, SpaceX |
| Rice University | $1.6M | Chevron, McKinsey, Amazon |
| UT Dallas | $950K | Texas Instruments, Ericsson |
Source: PayScale 2024 College ROI Report.
5 Lesser-Known Engineering Programs to Consider
- UTEP’s Metallurgical Engineering: One of only 12 ABET-accredited programs.
- Texas Tech’s Wind Energy: Partners with Pattern Energy for internships.
- UH’s Subsea Engineering: Trains grads for $150K offshore oil rig roles.
- TAMU-Corpus Christi’s Coastal Engineering: Focus on climate resilience.
- UNT’s Biomedical Engineering: Collaborates with DFW medical centers.
Industry Partnerships and Co-Ops
- UT Austin: Semester-long co-ops with Tesla, Intel, and Samsung.
- Texas A&M: 2,000+ students placed in ExxonMobil’s Global Ventures Program.
- Rice University: SpaceX recruits 20% of mechanical engineering grads.
- UT Dallas: Texas Instruments funds 50+ full-tuition scholarships annually.
Conclusion
Texas engineering schools offer a direct pipeline to high-paying careers in energy, tech, and aerospace. While UT Austin and Texas A&M are giants, niche programs at Rice, UT Dallas, and Texas Tech provide specialized opportunities. Prioritize ABET-accredited programs, leverage in-state tuition, and apply early to maximize scholarships.
FAQs
Q1: What’s the easiest Texas engineering school to get into?
A: Texas State University (85% acceptance rate) and UT Arlington (78%).
Q2: Do Texas schools offer online engineering degrees?
A: Yes! UT Austin’s MSE in Electrical Engineering and Texas A&M’s MEEN are fully online.
Q3: Can I transfer into UT Austin engineering from community college?
A: Yes, but GPA must be 3.8+ with calculus and physics credits.
Q4: Which Texas school is best for petroleum engineering?
A: UT Austin (#1) and Texas A&M (#2).
Q5: Are there scholarships for women in Texas engineering programs?
A: Yes: SMU’s Lyle School offers the Women in Engineering Scholarship (up to $25K/year).