Austin, October 2, 2025
News Summary
The University of Texas at Austin has achieved a national ranking of 30th in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 ‘Best Colleges’ rankings. This places UT-Austin as the second best university in Texas, trailing only Rice University at 17th. The rankings are based on various metrics measuring academic quality and student success. Notably, UT-Austin boasts 24 undergraduate programs in the top 10 of their respective fields, solidifying its reputation for academic excellence.
Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is ranked 30th among national universities according to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 “Best Colleges” rankings released on Tuesday. This ranking places UT-Austin as the second best university in Texas, following Rice University, which is ranked 17th in the nation.
The U.S. News rankings are considered highly influential and controversial, impacting college administrators and prospective students alike. These rankings are based on 17 metrics that measure academic quality, with a significant focus on student success, including graduation and retention rates.
Other Texas universities ranked include Texas A&M University at 51st, Baylor University and Southern Methodist University both at 88th, and Texas Christian University at 97th. The University of Texas at Dallas is ranked 110th, Texas Tech University and the University of St. Thomas tie at 198th. The University of North Texas and the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley both sit at 208th, while the University of Texas at San Antonio is 213th. The University of Texas at Arlington, Sam Houston State University, Texas State University, and the University of Texas-El Paso are all tied at 257th. Further down, the University of the Incarnate Word is at 293rd, UH-Clear Lake is at 318th, and Abilene Christian University, Texas Woman’s University, and the University of Texas at Tyler all tie at 329th, with Prairie View A&M University at 343rd.
The ranking for UT-Austin includes 24 undergraduate programs landing in the top 10 of their respective categories. Noteworthy programs at UT-Austin that excelled include accounting, marketing, finance, petroleum engineering, chemical engineering, and civil engineering, with multiple programs ranked among the top five. UT-Austin was also recognized as the No. 7 public school in the country.
In light of these accolades, the University President has emphasized the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and expressed gratitude towards faculty and staff for their contributions to student success.
The U.S. News rankings consider both public and private universities, alongside program-specific rankings which highlight overall performance in distinct disciplines.
Overview of Texas University Rankings
| University | National Rank |
|---|---|
| Rice University | 17th |
| The University of Texas at Austin | 30th |
| Texas A&M University | 51st |
| Baylor University | 88th |
| Southern Methodist University | 88th |
| Texas Christian University | 97th |
| The University of Texas at Dallas | 110th |
| Texas Tech University | 198th |
| The University of St. Thomas | 198th |
| The University of North Texas | 208th |
| The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley | 208th |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio | 213th |
| The University of Texas at Arlington | 257th |
| Sam Houston State University | 257th |
| Texas State University | 257th |
| The University of Texas-El Paso | 257th |
| The University of the Incarnate Word | 293rd |
| UH-Clear Lake | 318th |
| Abilene Christian University | 329th |
| Texas Woman’s University | 329th |
| The University of Texas at Tyler | 329th |
| Prairie View A&M University | 343rd |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the rank of the University of Texas at Austin in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 “Best Colleges” rankings?
The University of Texas at Austin is ranked 30th among national universities according to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 “Best Colleges” rankings.
How does UT-Austin rank among Texas universities?
This ranking places UT-Austin as the second best university in Texas, following Rice University, which is ranked 17th in the nation.
How many undergraduate programs from UT-Austin are in the top 10 categories?
The ranking for UT-Austin includes 24 undergraduate programs landing in the top 10 of their respective categories.
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Additional Resources
- Axios: University of Houston US News Rankings
- Wikipedia: University of Houston
- Houston Chronicle: US News World Report 2026 Rankings
- Google Search: Houston Chronicle
- Innovation Map: QS World University Rankings 2026
- Google Scholar: QS World University Rankings
- AOL: 5 Houston Universities Land U.S. News Rankings
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Texas Universities Rankings
- Beaumont Enterprise: Texas College Rankings 2026
- Google News: Texas College Rankings
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