In the latest annual U.S. News & World Report ranking, five Texas universities secured positions in the top 100 national universities, reflecting a competitive landscape amid changing metrics and methodologies in higher education rankings.
Rice University is leading the pack. Once again, it holds the title of the highest-ranked university in Texas, coming in at No. 18. While Rice experienced a slight drop from its previous position at No. 17, it maintains a strong reputation for academic excellence.
The University of Texas at Austin made notable progress this year, moving up two spots to No. 30. Meanwhile, Texas A&M University fell to No. 51, down from No. 47 last year. Baylor University and Southern Methodist University tied at No. 91, with Baylor slipping slightly from No. 93 and SMU dropping from No. 89.
However, the overall picture for Texas universities indicates a broader trend of slightly declining standings, particularly among public institutions. With Texas being home to the second-largest population of post-secondary students in the nation—90% of whom attend public schools—this ranking has sparked discussions about the representation of public universities in the top tiers.
UT-Austin and Texas A&M remain the only Texas schools within the top 50. Other notable public institutions include the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Houston, which ranked at No. 74 this year after a significant rise last year. The drop was attributed to changes in U.S. News’ ranking criteria, which removed metrics related to the success of first-generation students.
Despite the setback, University of Houston officials remain optimistic about future improvements. The university is just five points shy of breaking into the top 50 and aims to increase its six-year graduation rate from 65% to 70% to further enhance its standing. Notably, the University of Houston ranked No. 36 in the nation for social mobility, indicating its commitment to supporting low-income students.
In the Houston area, other institutions also made their mark on the rankings:
- University of Houston: No. 144
- University of St. Thomas: No. 209
- Sam Houston State University: No. 231
- University of Houston Clear Lake: No. 315
- Prairie View A&M University: No. 359
- Texas Southern University: Ranked between No. 392-434
The U.S. News rankings assess nearly 1,500 four-year bachelor’s degree-granting institutions using 17 metrics, significantly emphasizing peer assessments and graduation rates. The adjustments in scoring criteria over the past year have prompted institutions to reevaluate their approaches to improving student outcomes and overall institutional value.