The Best Online Colleges in Texas

Established in 1914, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is the second–oldest school in the University of Texas System and currently enrolls over 25,000 students, half of whom are the first in their family to go to college. UTEP offers 74 bachelor’s, 74 master’s, and 22 doctoral programs. Students can pursue several programs online:

Bachelor of Arts in Organizational and Corporate Communication (120 semester credits)

UTEP also offers four graduate–level online programs:

Graduate Certificate in Urban and Regional Planning (15 semester credits)

Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (36 semester credits)

Master of Business Administration (48 semester credits)

Graduate Certificate in Systems Engineering (15 semester credits)

The curriculum for the graduate certificate in urban and regional planning focuses on economic development, public administration, and public policy aspects of issues such as border security, emergency management, housing, and public safety. Students enrolled in the non–thesis M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction can concentrate in one of two areas — bilingual education or early childhood education. Most students complete their MBA within 20–24 months. The graduate certificate in systems engineering requires students to complete a practicum project prior to graduation.

UTEP students have access to a career center and academic planning services. Professional, personal, and crisis counseling services are also offered. Students access their online coursework through the Blackboard learning management system.

Founded in 1974 and one of four institutions in the University of Houston System, University of Houston — Downtown (UHD) currently enrolls more than 14,000 students. U.S. News & World Report includes UHD among institutions offering the best online bachelor’s programs in the country. The university offers 44 bachelor’s and eight master’s degrees, several of which are available online. A sample of UHD’s fully online offerings follow below.

Students enrolled in the business administration program can choose from eight concentration areas including finance, international business, insurance and risk management, marketing, and supply chain management. The bachelor of science degree in technical communication requires students to complete an internship experience prior to graduation. Online students can complete this requirement within their home area.

UHD also offers one master’s program online: Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management (36 semester hours)

The nonprofit management master’s program accepts a maximum transfer of six graduate–level semester hours with a grade of B or above from an accredited program or university.

Students benefit from services provided by the Writing and Reading Center including video tutorials and professional, graduate, or peer–to–peer tutoring sessions. UHD uses the Blackboard learning management system to deliver its online programs.

Starting out in 1901 as the Girls Industrial College, Texas Woman’s University (TWU) took on its current name in 1957 and began accepting men in 1972. More than 15,000 students currently attend TWU, and U.S. News & World Report includes the university among the country’s top institutions offering the best online graduate nursing programs. Students can pursue several programs online:

TWU’s bachelor’s in criminal justice program requires students to complete an internship experience prior to earning the degree.

TWU also offers three grad–level programs online:

Post–Professional Certificate in Physical Therapy (12 semester credit hours)Master of Education in Early Childhood Education (30 semester credit hours)Master of Science in Nursing — Nurse Practitioner (46 semester credit hours)

Students pursuing the post–professional PT certificate can specialize in one of three areas — advanced geriatric PT, advanced neurologic PT, and women’s health PT. The master of science in nursing offers five specialty areas: adult/gerontology acute care NP, adult/gerontology NP, family NP, pediatric NP, and women’s health NP. The curriculum for the M.Ed. in early childhood education degree aligns with the advanced standards established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

From its founding in 1926 until 1945, Tyler Junior College (TJC) operated as part of the Tyler public school system. Today, TJC enrolls more than 12,000 students and offers teacher preparation, certificate, associate, and bachelor’s programs. Students can pursue several degrees online:

TJC also offers one bachelor’s online degree:

Just like their on–campus counterparts, online enrollees can avail of several student support services such as counseling and tutoring sessions, academic planning, and career advisement. TJC uses the Canvas learning management system to deliver its online programs.

The Texas Legislature established UTPB in 1969 as an upper–division college, and it opened with an initial enrollment of 1,112 students. UTPB began accepting freshman and sophomore students in 1991 and now enrolls more than 7,500 students. U.S. News & World Report ranks UTPB among the best universities in the West. The university offers 35 undergraduate and 18 graduate programs including several online degrees, some of which are presented below.

TPB designed the industrial technology program primarily for students who already have an associate of applied science degree. The program’s 120–credit hour requirement includes at least 30 credit hours from an associate program. Designed for students who already have a bachelor’s degree, the teacher certification program includes a one–year paid internship component as a classroom teacher.

UTPB also offers several graduate–level degrees online:

The M.Ed. program offers specializations in bilingual/ESL education, educational leadership, special education, and autism.

Online students can access a variety of support services including an online writing center for assistance in academic writing, tutoring and learning resources, academic and career planning, and technical assistance. UTPB uses the Canvas learning management system to deliver its online programs.

Established in 1922, Midwestern State University (MSU) currently enrolls approximately 6,100 students coming from 44 states and 54 countries. It offers 49 undergraduate and 27 graduate programs, including online degrees in the field of nursing, education, health administration, and criminal justice. MSU ranks among U.S. News & World Report’s top 100 universities in the West. A sample of MSU’s online offerings follow below.

Applicants to the respiratory care completion program need a valid registered respiratory therapist credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care. The radiologic sciences program awards 42 credit hours toward the degree for students who hold a valid professional radiography certificate from a recognized accrediting body such as the American Registry of Radiologic Technicians.

MSU also offers two online master’s degrees:

The M.Ed. in special education prepares teachers to become educational diagnosticians so they can serve students with varying disabilities within a school or community setting. M.Ed. program applicants must hold a valid Texas certification in special education. The master’s in criminal justice is a writing–intensive program that requires students to complete at least eight major research papers prior to graduation.

MSU uses the Desire2Learn learning management system to deliver its online programs.

When it opened in the fall 1967, Central Texas College (CTC) admitted a total of 2,068 students. Currently, CTC occupies 560 acres, enrolls more than 21,000 students, and serves more than 10 counties including the state correctional facilities in Gatesville, Texas. The college offers several associate and certificate programs online in diverse professional arenas like business management, homeland security, computer science, and hospitality management. A sample of the CTC’s online programs follows below.

The associate of applied science in information technology requires students to complete an internship experience prior to earning the degree. Online students can intern in approved locations within their home area. Students pursuing the certificate in homeland security and emergency management must complete a final project toward the end of their program. Most engineering students complete CTC’s three–course calculus series prior to transferring to a four–year institution. The associate program in hotel management with food and beverage specialization is a self–paced program with courses that can be completed in three weeks or 16 weeks, depending on a student’s work and educational background.

CTC provides its online students the same support services as its on–campus enrollees including academic counseling, career advisement, technical assistance, and access to library materials and research resources. The college uses the Blackboard learning management system to deliver its online programs.

Del Mar College, founded in 1935, offers associate degrees in more than 42 majors and certificates and skills achievement awards in over 178 occupational fields. Del Mar currently enrolls approximately 25,000 students and offers the following programs online:

The associate of arts in business administration meets the common core and major coursework requirements established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Students who graduate from this program enter as third–year students in most four–year Texas universities. The curriculum also serves students who plan to enter the workforce immediately after completing the program.

Most of the online courses at DMC follow an asynchronous delivery format that gives busy students the freedom and flexibility they need to earn their degree while still meeting other professional and personal responsibilities. However, online students still need to comply with the course requirements regarding tests, assignment deadlines, and group work. The length of online courses typically varies between 8–16 weeks.

Students access their online courses through the Canvas learning management system. Online students can avail of a variety of student support services including peer tutoring from the Student Success Center and writing and math assistance from the Stone Writing Center and the Math Learning Center, respectively.

Founded in 1978, Brookhaven College enrolls approximately 12,400 students and offers 17 degree programs and 56 certificate options. Brookhaven maintains both workforce–ready and transfer programs that prepare students to either seek immediate employment or continue to pursue a four–year bachelor’s degree after graduation.

Associate degrees require the completion of 42 credits in core subjects such as history, language, U.S. government, mathematics, and life and physical sciences. Students need to complete an additional 18 credits in their area of concentration (such as criminal justice or accounting) to earn either degree. Students can complete the certificate in administrative support after just 48 weeks of continuous enrollment.

As part of the Dallas County Community College District, Brookhaven participates in articulation agreements between the district and several higher education groups including schools classified as Hispanic–Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. These articulation agreements facilitate the transfer of a Brookhaven graduate to a four–year institution.

Students access their online courses through the Blackboard learning management system. Online enrollees can avail of support services that include library materials, academic counseling, and career advisement.

In 1977, North Lake College in Irving, Texas, became the sixth college to be established in the seven–member Dallas County Community College District. North Lake maintains three campuses, occupies 276 acres, and enrolls approximately 11,400 students. The college offers several degree and certificate programs online. A sample of offerings that can be completed 100 online follows below.

Students pursuing an online associate program enroll in 42 credits of core courses, all which are available online. To complete either type of degree, they must enroll in an additional 18 credits of coursework in their preferred field of study. Not all courses for this component of the degree may be offered online.

Many of the online courses available at North Lake follow eight–week delivery schedules. Students can access asynchronous coursework at any time, but online programs are not self–paced; they follow the regular semester schedule of the school.

The LeCroy Center at North Lake offers online enrollees a range of support services that include advising referrals and technical support. Online students can also avail of academic and career counseling, library resources, and scholarship opportunities. North Lake uses the Blackboard learning management system to deliver its online programs.

El Centro College opened in 1966 as the first institution in the Dallas County Community College District. It currently supports a student population of close to 11,000 and offers more than 30 certificate and degree programs, notably in the fields of allied health, nursing, culinary arts, and information technology. El Centro offers several online programs along with their onsite offerings. Students can complete these (and several other) online programs without any campus visits.

Students pursuing their associate of arts in teaching can choose from three specializations: early childhood to grade 6, generalist (grades 4–8), and early childhood to grade 12 special education. The program can lead to initial teacher certification in Texas. The associate of applied science in management caters to students who are already in the managerial workforce and seeking to improve their skills or those in nonmanagerial positions who wish to move into the managerial field.

Many of the online courses at El Centro follow eight–week delivery formats and are available asynchronously. Online students can avail of many of the student services as on–campus enrollees, including career assessments, academic counseling, and tutoring and technical help. Students access their online coursework and requirements through the Blackboard learning management system.

Founded in 1970, Eastfield College occupies 244 acres and enrolls approximately 16,700 students, a little more than half of whom are the first in their family to attend college. The college offers both on–campus and online certificate and associate programs in 16 fields of study. The following programs require no on–campus visits.

Students who have completed the Basic Police Academy training program and other requirements can earn 15 equivalent credits toward the associate program in criminal science, thus allowing them to complete the program in a shorter amount of time. The associate of science in management permits students who are already employed in managerial positions to earn up to 12 credits toward the degree by applying classroom management concepts to existing workplace situations.

Eastfield maintains articulation agreements with several four–year colleges and universities that include Texas A&M University, Dallas Baptist University, and Stephen F. Austin State University. Students benefit from support services including career assessment, academic counseling, and library and research resources. The college uses the Blackboard learning management system to deliver their online programs.

Established in 1972, Lone Star College currently enrolls close to 90,000 students in seven campuses throughout the North Houston metropolitan area. Students can pursue several onsite and online certificate and degree programs. A sample of available online programs that do not require any on–campus visits follow below.

Students pursuing the associate in business administration can choose from two specialization areas — business management or human resources management. The certificate in administrative support also offers two specialization areas — administrative and medical specialty. The associate program in accounting requires students to complete a capstone course prior to earning the degree. The associate in speech communication program is designed as a transfer program, thus facilitating a degree holder’s transition to a four–year college or university.

Online enrollees can avail of a variety of services through the academic support center including tutorial sessions, career counseling, degree planning, and placement testing. Lone Star College maintains articulation agreements with several accredited colleges and universities, including Sam Houston State University, Baylor University, and Texas A&M University.