2026 U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” Rankings
Introduction to the Rankings
Southern Methodist University remains the top university in North Texas and the University of Texas at Dallas is the best public school in the area, according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report’s “best colleges” rankings released Tuesday.
U.S. News evaluates about 1,700 institutions annually, using more than a dozen criteria to publish rankings on the top national universities and liberal arts colleges. Some of the criteria include graduation rates, borrower debt and student-faculty ratio.
Six Texas schools — including SMU and Texas Christian University — made it to the top 100 national universities, according to the rankings, which looked at 436 national universities.
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The Education Lab
Top Universities in Texas
Rice University in Houston remains Texas’ best national university, coming in 17th. UT Austin came in 30th, Texas A&M in 51st, Baylor University and SMU in 88th and TCU in 97th.
SMU rose three spots from last year’s rankings and TCU moved up eight spots.
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TCU’s Ranking
In a statement, TCU Chancellor Daniel Pullin said the school’s top 100 ranking recognizes its faculty and staff’s focus on “enhancing our research, shaping our academic programs to meet employer demands, and creating a student experience that’s second to none.”
UT Dallas’ Ranking
UT Dallas remained the top public school in North Texas and ranked third for public schools in Texas, after the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University.
The university ranked 54th in top public schools in the nation, down two spots from last year, and 110th in national universities.
“UT Dallas is an extraordinary institution on the rise. The academic and research initiatives emerging from our university benefit Dallas, the North Texas region and the world. With such remarkable momentum, I believe our greatest achievements still lie ahead,” President Prabhas Moghe said in a statement.
University of North Texas’ Ranking
The University of North Texas ranked sixth for public schools in Texas. The campus, located in Denton, rose 12 spots in national university rankings, landing in the 208th position.
Criticisms of College Rankings
College rankings have been heavily criticized in recent years for prioritizing prestige, reputation and wealth over social mobility and return on investment. In 2023, U.S. News added new criteria to the evaluation process, including graduation rates for first-generation college students and proportion of college graduates earning more than a high school graduate in an effort to place more emphasis on social mobility and outcomes. This year, the rankings’ core methodology and weighting factors remained the same.
DMN Education Lab
The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.
The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, Judy and Jim Gibbs, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Ron and Phyllis Steinhart, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sydney Smith Hicks, and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.
Conclusion
The 2026 U.S. News & World Report’s “best colleges” rankings provide a comprehensive overview of the top universities in Texas and the nation. While the rankings have been criticized for their methodology, they remain a widely recognized and respected measure of a university’s quality and reputation. As the higher education landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how the rankings change and adapt to reflect the shifting priorities and values of students, educators, and employers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the top universities in Texas according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report’s “best colleges” rankings?
A: The top universities in Texas are Rice University, UT Austin, Texas A&M, Baylor University, SMU, and TCU.
Q: What criteria does U.S. News use to evaluate universities?
A: U.S. News uses more than a dozen criteria, including graduation rates, borrower debt, and student-faculty ratio, to evaluate universities.
Q: How did UT Dallas rank in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report’s “best colleges” rankings?
A: UT Dallas ranked 54th in top public schools in the nation and 110th in national universities.
Q: What is the DMN Education Lab?
A: The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative that deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.
