Living in Plano, you start hearing a lot about colleges as soon as your child becomes a high school student.

Since the school district is good, local parents naturally often ask, "Which school will you send your child to?"

Interestingly, even though there are no four-year universities in Plano, there are several nationally recognized colleges just a 20 to 30-minute drive away.

As a result, many students commute without living in dorms.

The first school I would recommend is UTD (The University of Texas at Dallas). It's located right next to Plano in Richardson, making it convenient for many students to commute as if they were going to work. A significant advantage is its proximity to Richardson's Telecom Corridor, which is home to many IT companies, providing numerous internship and job opportunities.

As of 2024, the undergraduate population is about 21,000, and when you include graduate students, the total is close to 30,000. UTD is considered quite competitive in fields like computer science, artificial intelligence, engineering, and business in Texas, and its graduates have a good employment rate.

For Texas residents, the annual tuition and fees are around $14,000, making it a cost-effective public university. It consistently ranks among the top universities nationwide.

The second school is SMU (Southern Methodist University). This prestigious private university is located in Highland Park, a wealthy area of Dallas. Depending on traffic, it takes about 25 to 30 minutes to get there from Plano.

With around 12,000 students, SMU is much smaller than UTD, but it boasts a student-to-faculty ratio of about 11 to 1, which allows for many small classes. It is particularly well-known for its strong connections in business, finance, and law within Texas.

The acceptance rate is about 60%, and the retention and graduation rates for freshmen are also high, indicating good student satisfaction. However, as a private university, the annual tuition exceeds $67,000, which can be a significant financial burden. It's important to consider how much scholarship aid you might receive.

Finally, there's Dallas Baptist University (DBU). While it has a smaller enrollment of about 4,000 students, many appreciate this aspect. Operated on Christian principles, the university fosters a warm community atmosphere and close relationships with professors.

DBU offers programs from bachelor's to doctoral degrees and is consistently well-rated in business, education, and counseling fields. The main campus is located in southwest Dallas, but there are educational centers in Plano and Hurst, making it fairly accessible.

Personally, I feel that each of these three schools has a distinct character. If you prioritize employment and cost-effectiveness, UTD is a great choice; if you value alumni networks and brand prestige, SMU is ideal; and if you prefer a faith-based, small educational environment, DBU might be the best fit.

Above all, the biggest advantage of Plano is that all these options are within about a 30-minute drive.

In the U.S., it's not uncommon for families to move for college, but in Plano, you can attend high-quality universities without having to relocate, which I think is a significant appeal for parents. This is why I believe Plano is referred to as an educational city, and it's not just because of the good public schools.