As high school graduates gear up for their first year of college in Texas, several might find themselves on campus at a top-ranked university in the world this fall.
U.S. News and World Report released its 2026-27 Best Global Universities list — with six universities cracking the top 500 of the list.
The list takes into account 13 indicators and weights measuring global research performance and reputation, ranking the world’s 2,250 top universities.
Here’s a look at how some major public and private academic colleges and universities in Texas fared on the list.
Students cheer near the end of a graduation commencement ceremony at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, U.S. May 11, 2024.
University of Texas at Austin
Global Ranking: No. 56.
Locations: Austin, Texas.
Type: Public university.
Texas A&M University at College Station
Global Ranking: No. 117 (tie).
Locations: College Station, Texas.
Type: Public university.
Rice University
Global Ranking: No. 201.
Locations: Houston, Texas.
Type: Private university.
A person walks through the campus of Rice University in Houston, Texas, U.S. May 26, 2025.
University of Texas at San Antonio
Global Ranking: No. 296 (tie).
Locations: San Antonio, Texas.
Type: Public university.
University of Houston
Global Ranking: No. 390.
Locations: Houston, Texas.
Type: Public university.
Baylor University
Global Ranking: No. 451.
Locations: Waco, Texas.
Type: Private university.
University of Texas at Dallas
Global Ranking: No. 503 (tie).
Locations: Richardson, Texas.
Type: Public university.
Texas Tech University
Global Ranking: No. 562 (tie).
Locations: Lubbock, Texas.
Type: Public university.
The Victory Bell Tower on the left hand side of the Texas Tech Administration Building as seen on Oct. 18, 2024, in Lubbock.
University of North Texas
Global Ranking: No. 739 (tie).
Locations: Denton, Texas.
Type: Public university.
University of Texas at Arlington
Global Ranking: No. 875 (tie).
Locations: Arlington, Texas.
Type: Public university.
Texas State University
Global Ranking: No, 1531 (tie).
Locations: San Marcos, Texas.
Type: Public university.
Texas Christian University
Global Ranking: No. 1906 (tie).
Locations: Fort Worth, Texas.
Type: Private university.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas A&M, UT, Baylor and TTU rank among the best in the world in 2026