The Best Business Schools in Dallas for 2026
The best business schools in Dallas are the accredited schools that graduate their students and charge honestly for it, not the ones with the biggest name on the building. Hakia analyzed 196 accredited business programs in Dallas and the surrounding metro and ranked 18 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes. Tuition across the 18 ranked schools runs from $5,712 to $61,650 a year, a $55,938 spread for the same credential.
The University of Texas at Dallas leads with a 94.9 Hakia Score on a 76% graduation rate, at $10,639 a year. Across all 18 ranked business schools in Dallas the average graduation rate is 52%, ranging from 25% to 86%. 6 of the 18 are public and 12 are private, a split that drives most of the price gap below.
Below is the full ranked table, followed by a school-by-school look at what actually separates the business schools in Dallas: cost, completion, selectivity, and where the degree leads. This list covers the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, so some schools sit outside the city line; the city of each is shown in the table. Every figure is drawn from federal IPEDS and BLS data, and no school pays for placement.
Key Takeaways on the Best Business Schools in Dallas
- The University of Texas at Dallas ranks first among business schools in Dallas with a 94.9 Hakia Score and a 76% graduation rate.
- Tuition across the 18 ranked business schools in Dallas spans $5,712 to $61,650 a year, a $55,938 gap for the same credential.
- The 18 ranked business schools in Dallas graduate 52% of students on average, from 25% to 86%.
- 6 of the 18 ranked schools are public, where the in-state rate is what Texas residents actually pay.
- 5 of the 18 offer a confirmed online option, which matters in a city where commuting time is the real cost.
Hakia analyzed 196 accredited business programs in Dallas and the surrounding metro reported to IPEDS, scoring each on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes, then ranked one entry per school on its strongest program. No school is rewarded for sticker price alone, and none pays for inclusion.
The 18 Best Business Schools in Dallas, Ranked for 2026
| # | Program | Type | In-state tuition | Grad rate | Admit rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Texas at DallasRichardson, TX | Public | $10,639 | 76% | 65% | 94.9 |
| 2 | Texas Christian UniversityFort Worth, TX | Nonprofit | $61,650 | 86% | 44% | 93.2 |
| 3 | Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX | Nonprofit | $59,500 | 84% | 63% | 93.1 |
| 4 | The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, TX | Public | $9,206 | 54% | 80% | 92.6 |
| 5 | University of North TexasDenton, TX | Public | $8,319 | 61% | 72% | 86.9 |
| 6 | University of DallasIrving, TX | Nonprofit | $50,140 | 73% | 53% | 86.9 |
| 7 | Parker UniversityDallas, TX · online option | Nonprofit | $26,208 | 74% | NR | 84.4 |
| 8 | Wade CollegeDallas, TX | For-profit | $17,680 | 54% | NR | 78.6 |
| 9 | Dallas Baptist UniversityDallas, TX | Nonprofit | $38,340 | 57% | 89% | 74.8 |
| 10 | Paul Quinn CollegeDallas, TX | Nonprofit | $8,898 | 27% | 40% | 74.4 |
| 11 | University of North Texas Health Science CenterFort Worth, TX · online option | Public | $8,125 | NR | NR | 73.3 |
| 12 | Texas Woman's UniversityDenton, TX | Public | $5,712 | 49% | 96% | 72.6 |
| 13 | Dallas Christian CollegeDallas, TX · online option | Nonprofit | $20,500 | 29% | 22% | 71.0 |
| 14 | Texas Wesleyan UniversityFort Worth, TX · online option | Nonprofit | $34,608 | 32% | 69% | 69.2 |
| 15 | Strayer University-TexasFarmers Branch, TX · online option | For-profit | $13,725 | 25% | NR | 67.3 |
| 16 | University of North Texas at DallasDallas, TX | Public | $7,840 | 42% | 84% | 66.8 |
| 17 | University of Phoenix-TexasDallas, TX | For-profit | $9,552 | 33% | NR | 66.7 |
| 18 | DeVry University-TexasIrving, TX | For-profit | $16,448 | 33% | NR | 66.0 |
NR — not reported by the institution in the latest IPEDS collection.
The Top Business Schools in Dallas at a Glance
Each program scores 0 to 100 on the Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. Longer bars rank higher.
Inside the Top Business Schools in Dallas
The University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, TX · Public
- Grad rate
- 76%
- Admit rate
- 65%
- In-state
- $10,639
- Out-of-state
- $36,139
UT Dallas graduates 76% of its students, above the 52% average across this ranking, on a 94.9 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 94.9, #1 of 18
- 76% graduation rate
- $10,639 in-state vs $36,139 out-of-state
- Admits just 65% of applicants
Based in Richardson, TX, UT Dallas is a public institution. Its Business program lands at #1 of the 18 ranked here, earning a 94.9 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That is the highest score in the ranking, well above the 78.5 group average. The program graduates 76% of its students, above the 52% average across the ranked schools. UT Dallas admits 65% of applicants, more selective than the 65% average for the group. That is more open than the 22% rate at Dallas Christian College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 25% to 86%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 29,886 students.
On cost, UT Dallas charges $10,639 a year in-state, roughly 3x the $36,139 out-of-state rate. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $5,712 at Texas Woman's to $61,650 at TCU. The spread makes the program a clearer value for TX residents than for out-of-state students. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 86%
- Admit rate
- 44%
- In-state
- $61,650
- Out-of-state
- $61,650
TCU graduates 86% of its students, above the 52% average across this ranking, on a 93.2 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 93.2, #2 of 18
- 86% graduation rate
- $61,650 tuition
- Top graduation rate on this list
Based in Fort Worth, TX, TCU is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Business program lands at #2 of the 18 ranked here, earning a 93.2 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 78.5 group average, in the top third of the 18 ranked programs, 1.7 points behind top-ranked UT Dallas. The program graduates 86% of its students, above the 52% average across the ranked schools. TCU admits 44% of applicants, more selective than the 65% average for the group. That is more open than the 22% rate at Dallas Christian College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 25% to 86%. The university enrolls 12,938 students overall.
On cost, TCU charges $61,650 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $5,712 at Texas Woman's to $61,650 at TCU. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 84%
- Admit rate
- 63%
- In-state
- $59,500
- Out-of-state
- $59,500
SMU graduates 84% of its students, above the 52% average across this ranking, on a 93.1 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 93.1, #3 of 18
- 84% graduation rate
- $59,500 tuition
- Admits just 63% of applicants
SMU is a private, nonprofit institution in Dallas, TX. Its Business program ranks #3 of the 18 analyzed here with a 93.1 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 78.5 group average, in the top third of the 18 ranked programs, 1.8 points behind top-ranked UT Dallas. The program graduates 84% of its students, above the 52% average across the ranked schools. SMU admits 63% of applicants, more selective than the 65% average for the group. That is more open than the 22% rate at Dallas Christian College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 25% to 86%. The university enrolls 12,116 students overall.
On cost, SMU charges $59,500 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $5,712 at Texas Woman's to $61,650 at TCU. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.
The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX · Public
- Grad rate
- 54%
- Admit rate
- 80%
- In-state
- $9,206
- Out-of-state
- $26,838
At $9,206 a year in-state, UT Arlington is among the more affordable business programs ranked here, holding a 92.6 Hakia Score on a 54% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 92.6, #4 of 18
- 54% graduation rate
- $9,206 in-state vs $26,838 out-of-state
- Admits just 80% of applicants
UT Arlington is a public institution in Arlington, TX. Its Business program ranks #4 of the 18 analyzed here with a 92.6 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 78.5 group average, in the top third of the 18 ranked programs, 2.3 points behind top-ranked UT Dallas. The program graduates 54% of its students, above the 52% average across the ranked schools. UT Arlington admits 80% of applicants, less selective than the 65% average for the group. That is more open than the 22% rate at Dallas Christian College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 25% to 86%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 44,956 students.
On cost, UT Arlington charges $9,206 a year in-state, roughly 2.9x the $26,838 out-of-state rate. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $5,712 at Texas Woman's to $61,650 at TCU. The spread makes the program a clearer value for TX residents than for out-of-state students. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with above-average completion.
University of North Texas
Denton, TX · Public
- Grad rate
- 61%
- Admit rate
- 72%
- In-state
- $8,319
- Out-of-state
- $18,159
At $8,319 a year in-state, North Texas is among the more affordable business programs ranked here, holding an 86.9 Hakia Score on a 61% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 86.9, #5 of 18
- 61% graduation rate
- $8,319 in-state vs $18,159 out-of-state
- Largest campus in this ranking
Based in Denton, TX, North Texas is a public institution. Its Business program lands at #5 of the 18 ranked here, earning an 86.9 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 78.5 group average, in the top third of the 18 ranked programs, 8 points behind top-ranked UT Dallas. The program graduates 61% of its students, above the 52% average across the ranked schools. North Texas admits 72% of applicants, less selective than the 65% average for the group. That is more open than the 22% rate at Dallas Christian College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 25% to 86%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 46,864 students.
On cost, North Texas charges $8,319 a year in-state, roughly 2.2x the $18,159 out-of-state rate. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $5,712 at Texas Woman's to $61,650 at TCU. The spread makes the program a clearer value for TX residents than for out-of-state students. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with above-average completion.
University of Dallas
Irving, TX · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 73%
- Admit rate
- 53%
- In-state
- $50,140
- Out-of-state
- $50,140
University of Dallas graduates 73% of its students, above the 52% average across this ranking, on an 86.9 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 86.9, #6 of 18
- 73% graduation rate
- $50,140 tuition
- Admits just 53% of applicants
Based in Irving, TX, University of Dallas is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Business program lands at #6 of the 18 ranked here, earning an 86.9 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 78.5 group average, in the top third of the 18 ranked programs, 8 points behind top-ranked UT Dallas. The program graduates 73% of its students, above the 52% average across the ranked schools. University of Dallas admits 53% of applicants, more selective than the 65% average for the group. That is more open than the 22% rate at Dallas Christian College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 25% to 86%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 2,078 students.
On cost, University of Dallas charges $50,140 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $5,712 at Texas Woman's to $61,650 at TCU. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.
Parker University
Dallas, TX · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 74%
- Admit rate
- NR
- In-state
- $26,208
- Out-of-state
- $26,208
Parker graduates 74% of its students, above the 52% average across this ranking, on an 84.4 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 84.4, #7 of 18
- 74% graduation rate
- $26,208 tuition
- Online option available
Parker is a private, nonprofit institution in Dallas, TX. Its Business program ranks #7 of the 18 analyzed here with an 84.4 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 78.5 group average, in the middle third of the 18 ranked programs. The program graduates 74% of its students, above the 52% average across the ranked schools. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 25% to 86%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 2,308 students. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, Parker charges $26,208 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $5,712 at Texas Woman's to $61,650 at TCU. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with an online option.
Wade College
Dallas, TX · For-profit
- Grad rate
- 54%
- Admit rate
- NR
- In-state
- $17,680
- Out-of-state
- $17,680
Wade College graduates 54% of its students, above the 52% average across this ranking, on a 78.6 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 78.6, #8 of 18
- 54% graduation rate
- $17,680 tuition
- 252 students enrolled
Based in Dallas, TX, Wade College is a private, for-profit institution. Its Business program lands at #8 of the 18 ranked here, earning a 78.6 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 78.5 group average, in the middle third of the 18 ranked programs. The program graduates 54% of its students, above the 52% average across the ranked schools. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 25% to 86%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 252 students.
On cost, Wade College charges $17,680 a year in-state. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $5,712 at Texas Woman's to $61,650 at TCU. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the main draw here is its above-average completion.
Dallas Baptist University
Dallas, TX · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 57%
- Admit rate
- 89%
- In-state
- $38,340
- Out-of-state
- $38,340
Dallas Baptist graduates 57% of its students, above the 52% average across this ranking, on a 74.8 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 74.8, #9 of 18
- 57% graduation rate
- $38,340 tuition
- Admits just 89% of applicants
Based in Dallas, TX, Dallas Baptist is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Business program lands at #9 of the 18 ranked here, earning a 74.8 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 78.5 group average, in the middle third of the 18 ranked programs. The program graduates 57% of its students, above the 52% average across the ranked schools. Dallas Baptist admits 89% of applicants, less selective than the 65% average for the group. That is more open than the 22% rate at Dallas Christian College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 25% to 86%. The university enrolls 4,124 students overall.
On cost, Dallas Baptist charges $38,340 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $5,712 at Texas Woman's to $61,650 at TCU. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the main draw here is its above-average completion.
Paul Quinn College
Dallas, TX · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 27%
- Admit rate
- 40%
- In-state
- $8,898
- Out-of-state
- $8,898
At $8,898 a year in-state, Paul Quinn College is among the more affordable business programs ranked here, holding a 74.4 Hakia Score on a 27% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 74.4, #10 of 18
- 27% graduation rate
- $8,898 tuition
- Admits just 40% of applicants
Based in Dallas, TX, Paul Quinn College is a private, nonprofit institution. Its Business program lands at #10 of the 18 ranked here, earning a 74.4 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 78.5 group average, in the middle third of the 18 ranked programs. The program graduates 27% of its students, below the 52% average across the ranked schools. Paul Quinn College admits 40% of applicants, more selective than the 65% average for the group. That is more open than the 22% rate at Dallas Christian College, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 25% to 86%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 628 students.
On cost, Paul Quinn College charges $8,898 a year in-state. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $5,712 at Texas Woman's to $61,650 at TCU. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with genuine selectivity.
What Business Schools in Dallas Cost
Tuition across the 18 ranked schools runs from $5,712 to $61,650 a year. Texas Woman's University in Denton anchors the low end at $5,712 a year, while Texas Christian University in Fort Worth sits at the top at $61,650. The cheapest public option among the business schools in Dallas is Texas Woman's University in Denton at $5,712; the cheapest private is Paul Quinn College at $8,898.
Over the four years the credential takes, that is roughly $22,848 in tuition at Texas Woman's University against about $246,600 at Texas Christian University. Public figures here are the in-state resident rate, so an applicant moving to Dallas from another state should read the out-of-state column before treating the cheap end of this list as cheap.
Which Business Major to Choose in Dallas
Business school covers a dozen different degrees, and the business schools in Dallas do not all offer the same ones. Across the 196 accredited programs analyzed here, the fields with the deepest coverage in Dallas are business administration (20 schools), accounting (15 schools), healthcare administration (11 schools), finance (10 schools), marketing (10 schools). A school ranked highly overall is not automatically strong in the major you want, so check the field before the name.
Accounting is the one track bound to a license: CPA eligibility in most states requires 150 credit hours against the 120 a bachelor's confers, which changes the course plan from the first year rather than the last. 15 of the schools analyzed in Dallas run one.
Public and Private Business Schools in Dallas
6 of the 18 ranked business schools in Dallas are public and 12 are private, and that split drives most of the $55,938 tuition spread above. The public rate is a residency benefit: Texas Woman's University in Denton charges $5,712 in-state and $15,552 out of state, so where a student already lives changes this ranking more than any other single factor.
Private schools discount heavily off the published number, which is why sticker price alone is a poor comparison. Completion is the better lens: the 18 ranked schools average 52%, from 25% to 86%, and a cheap degree that does not finish is not a saving. Run each school's own net price calculator before ruling one out on tuition.
Why Study Business in Dallas
Being on a campus among the business schools in Dallas puts a student inside the employer network that school recruits into, close enough for an internship during term rather than only over the summer, and internships are what turn an undergraduate business degree into a first job.
The 18 ranked schools sit across 7 towns in the metro, among them Richardson, Fort Worth, Dallas, and the table names the city of each, so check the commute before assuming a suburban campus is the convenient option. 5 of the 18 also run a confirmed online option for students who cannot be on campus daily.
Business Schools in Dallas: Your Questions, Answered
What is the best business school in Dallas?
By Hakia Score, The University of Texas at Dallas ranks first among the 18 ranked business schools in Dallas, with a 94.9 score and a 76% graduation rate. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes together, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one of them.
Can you study business part-time in Dallas?
Yes. Evening, weekend and part-time formats are common across the business schools in Dallas, and in a metro this size most schools run at least one. The tradeoff is length rather than content: the same credential takes longer while you keep working. Ask each school for the completion rate of its part-time cohort specifically, since it often differs from the headline graduation rate this ranking uses.
How much does a business degree cost in Dallas?
Tuition among the ranked Dallas schools runs from $5,712 to $61,650 a year. Public schools publish the in-state resident rate, so students moving in from another state should check the out-of-state column before comparing. Neither figure includes Dallas living costs, which are a real part of the total.
How many business schools in Dallas does this ranking cover?
We analyzed 196 accredited business programs across Dallas and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 18 schools, listing one entry per school on its strongest program. This list covers the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, so some schools sit outside the city line; the city of each is shown in the table.
Is it worth studying business in Dallas instead of online?
Only 5 of the 18 ranked schools are confirmed online, so in Dallas the campus route is the one most of this list offers. An accredited online program carries identical standing on a transcript, since accreditation attaches to the school and the program rather than to the delivery format. What a campus adds is proximity to the employers that school recruits into, and at $5,712 in-state, Texas Woman's University in Denton is what that proximity costs at the low end here. The honest comparison is local access against the cost of being here.
How the Business Schools in Dallas Are Scored
Every program earns a Hakia Score from 0 to 100, built only from federal data (IPEDS, the U.S. Department of Education, and BLS) and scored against its true peers: programs in the same field at the same degree level. No reputation surveys, no pay-to-play. Here is how the score is weighted:
- Outcomes44%
Graduation rate (26%) and real per-school graduate earnings (18%). Does the program get students to the finish line, and where do they land?
- Selectivity & academics38%
Admissions selectivity (24%) and the academic profile of admitted students (14%).
- Scale & value18%
Enrollment (7%), cost-to-earnings value (6%), and the number of graduates a program produces (5%).
Weights renormalize over the data each program actually reports, so a school missing a metric (many open-access colleges do not publish entrance scores or earnings) is never penalized for it. Scores are percentiles within the peer group, curved to a 0-to-100 scale. What the score does not measure: individual instructor quality, specific course content, or campus culture. Verify those directly with the program.