Over 15 million strong, Texas’ civilian workforce is the second largest in the nation and continues to be the fastest growing.

U-Haul saw more incoming one-way truck rentals to Texas than any other state in 2016, 2017 and 2018. As talent flocks to the state, Texas’ population grew by more than 367,000 in 2019 alone and brought the total number of residents to nearly 29 million. Texas’ population growth is the strongest among large states with populations over 10 million, both in terms of numeric change and percent change, and shows no sign of slowing down. As the entire state grows, Houston remains the fourth largest city in the U.S. and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington the fourth largest metro.

From top-ranked private colleges to some of the largest public universities, higher education in Texas is producing top workforce talent for the 21st-century business environment.

The Texas education system attracts and develops human capital from around the state and around the world. Texas’ 148 higher education institutions vary in size and program specializations but are all united by one commonality: topping the rankings of U.S. News & World Report. Six— Rice University, The University of Texas at Austin, Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University, Baylor University, and Texas Christian University—are ranked in the top 100 nationally.

One of the main reasons for Texas being the best state for business is access to some of the top talent in the country, no matter what your workforce needs.

Where Does Texas Rank in Higher Education?

The educational infrastructure in Texas is robust. Nearly 40 percent of the Texas workforce is college-educated. When you consider that Texas is second in the country for workforce size, that’s a testament to Texas’ education ranking.

Texas boasts 148 higher education institutions varying in size and program specializations. Each year, these institutions educate 2.21 million students.

Texas Colleges

Many Texas colleges and universities are located in major cities across the state. Two of these public universities – The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University in College Station – are among the largest universities in the country, with more than 40,000 undergraduate students each.

While best known for its prestigious network of publicly funded universities, there are plenty of small to mid-size Texas colleges for those students seeking this type of quality educational experience.

Best Universities in Texas

As per U.S. News & World Report, the best universities in Texas include:

• Rice University
• University of Texas at Austin
• Southern Methodist University
• Texas A&M University
• Baylor University
• Texas Christian University
• University of Texas at Dallas
• University of Houston
• Texas Tech University
• Sam Houston State University

The top six Texas universities also rank in the top 100 nationally. Several institutions are top-ranked for specialty areas. For instance, The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University tie for the nation’s best undergraduate petroleum program.

Top Medical Schools in Texas

Biotech, life sciences, and healthcare are major Texas industries. The state is renowned for its groundbreaking medical research and is home to an array of top academic and research institutions. The top medical schools in Texas, most of them premier research institutions, include:

• Baylor College of Medicine
• University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
• University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
• University of Texas Health Science Center Houston
• College of Medicine at Texas A&M University

In total, Texas has 12 allopathic medical schools, bestowing an M.D. degree; three osteopathic medical schools, bestowing the D.O. degree; four dental schools, and two schools of optometry.

Education Development in Texas

Education is lifelong. New technologies demand consistent skill set upgrading. Our Texas Workforce Education program is paramount for promoting educational development and innovation.

The Skills Development Fund (SDF) is the state’s top upskilling program. SDF grants provide site-specific, customized training opportunities for Texas businesses and their employees to increase the skill levels and wages of the Texas workforce.

State-funded grants ensure companies have a workforce trained with the skills their industry requires to stay competitive.

When energy distributor CoServ experienced rapid growth, a $161,000 grant from the Texas Skills Development Fund helped the company partner with North Central Texas College to train 143 employees for electrical roles. The fund is Texas’s premier job-training program, providing customized training opportunities for businesses and workers to increase skill levels. This $48 million fund is administered by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and collaboratively executed between businesses, the public community and technical colleges, Workforce Development Boards and economic development partners. To boost Texas workforce education, the state’s 50+ community college districts work in partnership with the TWC to prepare workers in the pipeline with occupational and vocational training.

The Texas Skills Development Fund (TSDF) is offered by the Texas Workforce Commission and provides training opportunities for workers and skilled employees for employers. When private, for-profit employers partner with the TSDF, they may also partner with grant applicants. These include community colleges or technical colleges, local Workforce Development Boards, or the Texas Engineering Extension Service. Under state law, the TSDF gives priority to training incentives for small businesses.

The TSDF provides grants to eligible private businesses, business consortiums, or trade unions. These grants finance the design and implementation of job-training programs custom-tailored to the recipient. In this way, the TSDF combines the needs of businesses with the demand for local skilled workers. The results benefit all involved.

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is the state agency in charge of providing employers and job seekers with workforce development opportunities. The TWC also provides support services so that everyone can participate in the Texas economy. These services include:

• Adult education and literacy
• Childcare for certain populations engaged in workforce training
• Training and employment for the disabled

TWC’s mission is to promote and support a workforce system that creates opportunities for employers, individuals, and communities to achieve economic prosperity and sustain it.

To help Texas compete globally, the TWC and its Workforce Solutions Partners aid in developing, recruiting and retaining businesses and talent.

For employers, the TWC offers training, retraining, recruitment, and outplacement services. For job seekers, the TWC offers job search resources, career development information, and training programs.

Texans have access to a large network of first-rate yet affordable community colleges that enroll roughly 45% of all higher education students. The community college districts give students the educational and vocational skills needed to produce a quality workforce. Students are offered two-year associate degrees in lucrative industries such as information technology, education and training, healthcare, and business administration.

In addition to associate degrees in high-demand sectors that fuel economic growth, the Texas community college system provides unique programs that can lead to entry-level professional positions.

Institutions like Lone Star College offer comprehensive educational opportunities, ranging from computer programming and biotechnology to civil engineering. Texas’ top community colleges have partnerships with four-year schools, enabling students to transfer credits into higher education programs that align with their career goals.

According to the Texas Association of Community Colleges, more than 525,000 students were enrolled in the fall of 2021. TACC represents the community college districts in the state, where students receive critical skills training for Texas businesses and industries.

• Central Region: Blinn College, Central Texas College, Hill College, McClennan Community College, Navarro College, Temple College, and Austin Community College District
• East Region: Angelina College, Kilgore College, Northeast Texas Community College, Panola College, Paris Junior College, Texarkana College, Trinity Valley, and Tyler Junior College
• North Region: Cisco College, Collin College, Dallas College, Grayson College, North Central Texas College, Ranger College, Tarrant County College District, Vernon College, and Weatherford College
• South Region: Alamo Colleges, Coastal Bend College, Del Mar College, Laredo College, South Texas College, Southwest Texas Junior College, Texas Southmost College, and Victoria College
• Southeast Region: Alvin Community College, Brazosport College, College of the Mainland, Galveston College, Houston Community College, Lee College, Lone Star College System, San Jacinto College, and Wharton County Junior College
• West Region: Amarillo College, Clarendon College, El Paso Community College, Howard College, Midland College, Odessa College, South Plains College, Western Texas College, and Frank Phillips College

The technical colleges throughout Texas are one of the primary forces behind our large, highly-skilled workforce. Schools like Texas State Technical College (TSTC) teach students practical, hands-on skills that transfer directly into their daily work life—enabling them to hit the ground running right after graduation.

At TSTC, Texas residents can train in a skilled trade in a variety of industries, including:

• Health & Medical
• Aviation
• Business Management
• Computer & Information Technology
• Construction & Maintenance
• Engineering & Manufacturing
• Environmental & Safety
• Hospitality
• And so much more

To ensure graduates are ready for everything the real world throws at them, TSTC partners with big, cutting-edge companies like Tesla, CAT, Oncor, and Chevron, to stay up-to-date on what skills are most needed in top industries. Students are able to train using these companies’ machinery, technology, and systems, giving them invaluable hands-on experience that will help them transition seamlessly into the workplace.

TSTC campuses are conveniently located throughout Texas:

• Central Texas – East Williamson County, Waco
• East Texas – Marshall
• Gulf Coast Texas – Fort Bend County
• North Texas –North Texas
• South Texas – Harlingen
• West Texas – Abilene, Breckenridge, Brownwood, Sweetwater

When business owners and hiring teams see a Texas technical college on a resume, they know they can trust the applicant is trained and ready to perform the job at hand.