UT System institutions shine in U.S. News Best Colleges ranking lists
UT institutions receive high marks in categories like overall excellence and social mobility

AUSTIN, TX  – Institutions from The University of Texas System have been recognized in various categories of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges rankings, earning top national and state honors for overall excellence, social mobility, innovation, service to veterans and several professional programs including engineering and nursing.

Rankings highlights include:

  • UT Austin No. 1 public university in Texas, No. 9 national public university, and No. 1 in Texas for innovation and service to veterans. UT Austin's Cockrell School of Engineering also ranked No. 1 for undergraduate engineering.
  • UT Dallas No. 3 public university in Texas and No. 5 in engineering
  • UT Rio Grande Valley No. 1, UT Arlington No. 3, UT San Antonio No. 7 in Texas for social mobility
  • UTHealth Houston Cizik School of Nursing No. 1 in Texas and No. 16 nationally for undergraduate nursing

“The extraordinary talent and ingenuity of UT’s faculty and researchers have propelled our institutions into the nation’s most preeminent ranks of higher education,” said UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken. “I’m grateful that the lives of students, patients and our entire society are enhanced by their profound contributions.”

All of UT System’s national universities ranked among the top 20 Texas public universities: UT Rio Grande Valley No. 6, UT Arlington No. 7, UT San Antonio No. 11, UT El Paso No. 13, and UT Tyler No. 16. Furthermore, Stephen F. Austin State University and UT Permian Basin earned top slots in the regional university category ranking No. 5 and No. 9, respectively, out of all Texas universities in the West region.

Compared to last year’s U.S. News national rankings, UT Rio Grande Valley increased 72 spots, UT Arlington increased 63 spots, UT San Antonio increased 92 spots.

UT Dallas and UT El Paso also earned top rankings for social mobility, tied at No. 12 in Texas and No. 31 nationally, while UT Austin, UT Health San Antonio and UT Medical Branch-Galveston tied for No 4. in Texas and No. 31 nationally for undergraduate nursing.

About The University of Texas System

The University of Texas System has enhanced the lives of Texans and individuals worldwide through its commitment to education, research and healthcare for 140 years. With 14 institutions collectively enrolling over 254,000 students, the UT System stands as one of the largest public university systems in the United States. UT institutions annually produce over 66,000 graduates and award more than one-third of the undergraduate degrees in Texas, as well as over 60% of the state's medical degrees. The combined efforts of UT-owned and affiliated hospitals and clinics resulted in over 10.7 million outpatient visits and more than 2 million hospital days last year. The UT System’s $3.8 billion research enterprise is one of the nation’s most innovative and ranks No. 1 in Texas and No. 2 in the nation for federal research expenditures. The UT System has an operating budget of $29.1 billion for fiscal year 2024 and employs more than 116,000 faculty, health care professionals, support staff and student workers.

News Contact Information

Catherine Frazier: cfrazier@utsystem.edu • 512-499-4360 (direct)