College students looking for an exemplary education in Texas can still apply to Fort Worth's consistently top-ranking university before its early decision deadline on November 1.

Perfect timing, as Texas Christian University has earned the No. 10 spot in WalletHub's 2024 ranking of the best colleges and universities in Texas.

The personal finance experts analyzed more than 800 colleges and universities in the United States using 30 metrics to determine their rankings.

Factors that helped determine TCU's placement include its acceptance rate (42.6 percent as of fall 2023), graduation rate (73.9 percent for four-year students), a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio, its gender and racial diversity, net cost, and more.

TCU is on a winning streak when it comes to best-in-Texas rankings. The university just placed No. 6 on U.S. News' rankings for 2024, and No. 6 on Niche's list.

According to U.S. News and World Report, TCU's tuition and fees cost $57,220.

Gerardo L. Blanco, an associate professor at Boston College, provided some advice for prospective students aiming to graduate college with minimal debt and significant job prospects in their chosen degree field. He advised that students learn the difference between a university's "sticker price" versus the net price after financial aid. It could be particularly useful for students planning for a post-secondary education at private institutions like TCU.

"There are public universities, both flagship and regional, that offer great value for money," Blanco said. "Many private non-profit institutions are committed to promoting access and, even with higher sticker prices, offer generous financial aid."

In WalletHub's regional ranking of best universities in the South, TCU earned No. 47.

Out of the top 500 universities in the nation, TCU ranked No. 222. Yale University took the No. 1 spot in the country, followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (No. 2), Princeton University in New Jersey (No. 3), and California Institute of Technology (No. 4). Harvard University in Massachusetts rounded out the top five.

Elsewhere in Dallas-Fort Worth, Southern Methodist University ranked No. 6 in the state and No. 170 nationwide, and Irving-based University of Dallas ranked No. 7 in Texas and No. 184 in the nation.

The top 10 colleges and universities in Texas are:

• No. 1 – Rice University, Houston
• No. 2 – The University of Texas at Austin
• No. 3 – Trinity University, San Antonio
• No. 4 – Texas A&M University-College Station
• No. 5 – Southwestern University
• No. 6 – Southern Methodist University
• No. 7 – University of Dallas
• No. 8 – Austin College
• No. 9 – LeTourneau University
• No. 10 – Texas Christian University