The University of North Texas (UNT) is one the 5 best universities in the entire state of Texas. It is located in the northern part of Dallas and is considered one of the best research universities in America.

With more than 200 degrees to consider, we think it’s one of the most diverse colleges in terms of courses offered. In fact, the university prides itself on its flexibility when shifting degrees. 

This makes it a great place for incoming college students who haven’t made a final decision on their undergraduate degrees. It can, however, be hard to choose a specialization given the many programs offered.

Students may find better opportunities for specific degrees elsewhere. Otherwise, we recommend this university to those interested in engineering, business, and journalism. 

When talking about its location, we think its Denton campus is the perfect place for serious students looking to put some hours into the books. Denton is located at the northern edge of Dallas, some ways off of the downtown area.

While the nightlife and party culture definitely exist at UNT, it can feel a bit secluded at times. The university is actually sitting at the edge of the city and is adjacent to the more rural towns found north.

A lot of students in neighboring towns actually prefer UNT as it eliminates the need to rent a dorm. We think it’s great for cutting down on costs since it’s only a 30-minute drive from some towns. 

This isn’t to say that the university’s facilities aren’t of mention. One thing that makes this college great is how well facilities are maintained by the school.

There are multiple dorm rooms capable of housing a sizable amount of UNT’s approximately 41,000 student population. Dorm rooms can vary from private or shared.

Kitchens, bathrooms, and quiet time privileges can also vary from one dorm residence to another. Students will be pleased to hear that these dorm rooms are regularly maintained to ensure a high quality of life for every resident.

As a tier one research university, its libraries, classrooms, computer rooms, and study halls are all state-of-the-art. The campus also boasts two sports and recreational centers. 

One is for the general student population, with yoga classes, soccer fields, basketball courts, and gyms, while the other sports center is for student-athletes. 

Despite the great facilities, one common criticism of the college is the lack of parking spaces.

As big as UNT is, there is actually only one dedicated parking garage on the entire campus. 

An entire school year at the University of Northern Texas costs about $25,000. With financial aid, this can be lowered to about $15,000.

When it comes to cost, there are few that can match its lower tuition. This makes the college one of the best in Dallas.

Being the only private school on the list, the Southern Methodist University (SMU) is not only one of the best colleges in Dallas but it’s also one of the best in the nation, ranking in the top 20% according to US News and World Reports.

It’s quite a prestigious school that will get you noticed by any future employer. Despite being a well-known school, its acceptance rate is a very high 52.7%.

As a tier one college, SMU takes pride in its science, engineering, and political science courses. Other than that, there are 100 undergraduate degrees and 85 minor degrees incoming students can take.

Since Dallas is an emerging hub for the IT industry, we feel that SMU is a great place to foster this career path. In fact, it partners with a lot of companies in sending their students on internships. 

If you’re looking for a college teaching their students the ways of the real world, then SMU will be the perfect place.

Location-wise, SMU can be found near downtown Dallas, making it accessible to the greater parts of the city. However, apartments outside of school-owned dorms are a bit expensive. 

Being in the middle of downtown, the campus itself can feel smaller compared to other universities. 

Of course, the campus still comes with facilities we come to expect with colleges, like sports and recreation centers, study halls, laboratories, and more.

As a private school, SMU’s annual tuition can be pricey. Regardless, 3 out of 4 students can be given financial aid, severely reducing their yearly payments. 

All in all, Southern Methodist University is a great place for those who see themselves in a career in science. It’s also a great way to make connections with possible employers. 

Located east of the downtown area, the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) is one of the top public universities in the state.

UT Dallas specializes in 3 types of degrees, computer and information science, biology, and accounting, all major industries in Dallas. UT Dallas also offers 140 diverse degrees from biology to even esports.

One thing we like about the college is that despite being classified as a tier one research university, its acceptance rate is 79.4%. This shows in its school population of over 29,000 diverse students. 

The college’s inclusivity is also something it takes pride in, which we also value as well.

UT Dallas stages many intercultural events throughout the year.

It is also known for having the first national Muslim fraternity in America, the Alpha Lambda Mu.

The college campus is mid-sized, though it can feel a bit cramped when taking into account the large student population. However, there are many resident halls and apartments that can accommodate them. 

Its smaller size also means less parking. Though many parking garages have been developed, it seems to still not be enough.

Being one of the top public universities in the state also has its perks. There are an abundant amount of research institutes located on the campus for students who need learning resources, conduct experiments, or simply study.

Of course, being a public school means that UT Dallas’ tuition is considerably cheaper than a lot of private schools. 

Students who live in the state will get charged about $14000 annually while those who live out of the state get charged double. 

This university is definitely recommended for those seeking to take part in scholarly research, particularly those involving the sciences. While it does offer liberal arts courses, students may find other colleges better suited for this track.

If going to a non-secular school is something you’ve always wanted to do, then the Dallas Baptist University (DBU) might be the perfect place to go to.

The DBU is one of the oldest Christian liberal arts universities founded in 1898.  For over a hundred years, the university has been developing transformative Christian leaders trying to make their mark on the world.

Located right beside Mountain Creek Lake, the campus size is actually the smallest one on our list. This is fine, however, as the campus only has about 2600 students. 

The small student population can be both good and bad. Classes typically have a 13:1 student-teacher ratio.

The good things are that the school is less crowded and the classes are more intimate. On the flip side, there’s a lesser feeling of school pride compared to bigger, more populated universities.

Lesser students can also mean fewer degrees offered. DBU only has 84 undergraduate degrees, with some only having a few students in each department. 

If socializing and going to college parties and cheer rallies are what you’re looking for, then this college may not be for you.

In terms of location, DBU is close to three major cities: Dallas, Arlington, and Irving. These places should be about an hour’s drive away. 

These cities are close enough that students can drive to them, instead of living in dorms.

Of course, renting a dorm is also an option. There are 3 dorms and residence halls where students have a choice of living in private or shared rooms.

Since there are fewer dorms to maintain, many of them look and feel brand new. This is also the case for the campus soccer field, baseball park, study halls, and more.

This does, however, come with a steep price. For all the great facilities DBU has, its annual tuition is very expensive, amounting to $33000. 

Focusing on the liberal arts, we think DBU is the best place for those looking to take journalism, creative writing, multimedia arts, and other related courses. 

Those looking for a career path in business or in science may find other universities more attractive.

If you’re looking to go to one of the best liberal arts colleges in America, then look no further than Texas Christian University (TCU).

TCU’s campus is located on the western side of Dallas called Fort Worth. It is an open-type university without defined borders, which intertwines it with its neighboring suburbs. 

This is great because it provides students with alternatives to housing should they choose not to stay in a dorm on campus grounds. 

For its size of 368 acres, it’s actually spacious considering that its population is a little over 9000 students. This gives TCU the best student to campus size ratio on this list. 

The university is known for being a private liberal arts college founded by the Disciples of Christ, meaning it also offers theology courses. 

TCU would be a great alternative to other liberal arts colleges in Dallas. However, it is notable that business and science courses aren’t its specialties.

Despite that, it is still a place for students to pick and choose to pursue whatever degrees they want. TCU offers 116 bachelor’s, 65 master’s, and 38 doctoral programs, on par with some of the biggest colleges in the area. 

At TCU there are loads of social and spiritual activities for students to enjoy. Homecoming, Spring Sing, sporting activities, and even going through fraternities and sororities, are all activities students can take part in. 

For us, this really breaks what most people would think as a conservative college.

One big downside to TCU is its annual tuition fee. As a well-known private school, its yearly tuition fee adds up to $40,000.

This, of course, is indicative of its well-maintained campus, extra-curricular activities, and world-class education. However, a lot of people may not be able to afford it.

If you’re looking to take your children to arguably the best college that money can buy, then Texas Christian University is the right place.