Southern Methodist University (SMU) has been recognized as the top university in North Texas, while the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) has claimed the title of the best public school in the region, according to the latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report. The annual evaluation assesses approximately 1,700 institutions based on various criteria, such as graduation rates, student-faculty ratios, and borrower debt.
The rankings reveal that six Texas institutions, including SMU and Texas Christian University (TCU), are among the top 100 national universities, which were assessed from a total of 436 national universities. Leading the list for Texas is Rice University in Houston, ranking 17th nationally. Following closely are the University of Texas at Austin at 30th, Texas A&M University at 51st, Baylor University and SMU at 88th, and TCU at 97th.
In a statement, TCU Chancellor Daniel Pullin highlighted that the school’s inclusion in the top 100 underscores the commitment of its faculty and staff to enhance research initiatives, tailor academic programs to meet employer needs, and deliver an exceptional student experience.
UT Dallas, while maintaining its status as the top public institution in North Texas, ranks third among Texas public schools, following UT Austin and Texas A&M. The university is positioned at 54th among public schools nationally, a slight decline of two spots from the previous year, and ranks 110th in the overall national universities category. The university’s leadership has emphasized its commitment to academic excellence and research initiatives that benefit not only Dallas but also the broader North Texas region and beyond.
The University of North Texas also made notable progress, ranking sixth among public schools in Texas and climbing 12 spots to 208th in the national rankings.
In recent years, college rankings have faced criticism for prioritizing prestige and wealth over social mobility and return on investment. In response to these concerns, U.S. News introduced new evaluation criteria, including metrics that focus on graduation rates for first-generation college students and the proportion of graduates earning more than those with only a high school diploma. Despite these changes, the core methodology and weighting factors remained consistent for this year’s rankings.
The Dallas Morning News Education Lab, which covers critical educational issues in North Texas, is community-funded and supported by various local organizations. The lab aims to deepen the dialogue surrounding urgent educational topics affecting the region’s future.
Milla Surjadi, who covers higher education for the Education Lab, brings experience from notable publications, including The Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times. A recent graduate of Duke University, she continues to contribute to important discussions in the education sector.
For those interested in a detailed analysis of the rankings and their implications, the full report is available for further reading.
