College Towns
Alums, sports fans and prospective students and their families will feel at home in college and university towns in Texas, which buzz with energy and plentiful things to see, eat and do.
Small class sizes, a diverse student body and a stroll-worthy 234-acre campus draw students to Southern Methodist University, a private institution in the heart of Dallas. Home to the fifth largest media market in the country and named among the best cities for jobs by Forbes, the city also offers many benefits for job-seeking grads. The school is located in the University Park neighborhood, which is particularly lively during SMU football games when Mustang fans tailgate on Bishop Boulevard (aka “Boulevarding”).
Waco was known as the headquarters for Baylor University long before home renovation gurus Chip and Joanna Gaines put the city’s real estate market in the national spotlight on their reality TV show “Fixer Upper.” In addition to offering highly ranked undergraduate and graduate programs, Baylor is beloved for its long standing traditions such as Dr. Pepper Hour, when students gather in the Bill Daniel Student Center for Dr. Pepper floats, and Family Weekend, a lineup of fall events for students and their families to spend time together. Check the schedule for Baylor’s Bears to catch a football, volleyball, soccer or basketball game while you’re in town.
In Houston, Rice University and University of Houston draw students from around the world. Nestled on 300 acres next to Texas Medical Center, nearly 4,500 students are enrolled at private Rice University, where popular majors include computer and informational sciences, psychology and mechanical engineering. Meanwhile, University of Houston has a much larger undergraduate population of nearly 38,000 students, who take advantage of the school’s huge 895-acre campus and more than 300 degrees and programs. Both schools give students access to the benefits of calling Houston home, including an affordable cost of living (it’s about 6 percent lower than the national average) and ever-evolving arts, culture and culinary scenes.
Austin’s creative and entrepreneurial spirit extends to the University of Texas at Austin, a top research university with an award-winning faculty. Students enjoy access to the city’s vibrant music, film and art scenes—Austin has more than 200 venues and hosts several blockbuster events, including South by Southwest and Austin City Limits—and outdoor recreation opportunities amid year-round sunshine. When you’re visiting the University of Texas at Austin campus, wander around 6th Street, an entertainment district lined with bars, restaurants, bakeries and live music venues, and walk along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail.
About 110 miles northeast of Austin, College Station is where you’ll find Texas A&M University. There, students can pursue more than 130 undergraduate degrees, 175 master’s programs, 92 doctoral programs and five professional programs at what’s considered one of the most affordable universities in Texas. Plan a visit to Aggieland—a nickname for the campus and its students honoring the area’s agricultural roots—to check out the modern campus and the friendly Bryan-College Station community. Cheer on college football’s Aggies at Kyle Field or attend a basketball, baseball, softball, soccer or volleyball game.
Texas Tech University is located in Lubbock on northwest Texas’ high plains. While there are about 41,000 students enrolled at Texas Tech—10,000 to 30,000 fewer than universities such as Texas A&M and University of Texas at Austin—attendees can still take advantage of the benefits and resources of larger schools. That includes more than 550 student organizations and a wide array of majors and classes. Lubbockis also a growing city in northern Texas with a population of 300,000 and a continuously expanding roster of attractions, bars and restaurants.
Where to Stay in Texas
To make college town travel easy and affordable for individuals and groups, Best Western Hotels & Resorts offers many special offers. That includes AAA, AARP and government and military discounts and Best Western Rewards Member benefits.