(NEXSTAR) — Although both Texas A&M University and the University of Texas Austin take up a lot of space in academic attention in the Lone Star State, a different Texas school came out on top in a recent national ranking of best colleges and universities in the U.S.
UT Austin and TAMU ranked well, overall, but only one Texas university ranked in the top 10 of WalletHub’s Best Colleges and Universities 2026, among schools like Princeton (No. 1 nationally) and Harvard (No. 2).
To determine the ranking, WalletHub compared nearly 800 schools across seven categories, including student selectivity, cost, campus experience and career outcomes. Schools were then given scores out of 100, with higher scores being “best.”
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Coming in ninth nationally is Rice University in Houston, with a total score of 77.45 — for context, Princeton, coming in at first, received a 79.66 score, so Rice is doing pretty well.
The private research institution received some of its highest scores for education outcomes and career outcomes, earning national rankings of 12th and 26th, respectively. Education outcomes measures retention rate, graduation rate and credentials awarded per undergraduate enrollment. Meanwhile, career outcomes measures things like share of graduates who find full-time employment within six months and median salaries of former students.
Here’s how the other Texas universities and colleges ranked in WalletHub’s list:
Overall rank
University/college
Total score
58.
University of Texas Austin
70.48
62.
Trinity University
70.17
158.
Texas A&M University
61.97
163.
Texas Christian University
61.66
175.
Austin College
61.25
177.
Southwestern University
61.17
245.
University of Dallas
58.96
259.
University of Texas-Dallas
58.73
268.
University of Houston
58.51
276.
LeTourneau University
58.17
293.
Southern Methodist University
57.90
303.
Texas A&M International
University
57.59
336.
Baylor University
57.02
372.
Southwestern Adventist University
56.48
395.
Texas Tech University
56.20
450.
Abilene Christian University
55.00
475.
University of North Texas
54.56
486.
University of Houston-Victoria
54.30
Though it didn’t crack the top 10, UT Austin ranked at No. 63 nationally for education outcomes and 118th nationally for career outcomes. Meanwhile, Texas A&M International University, located in Laredo, ranked No. 1 nationally for cost and financing, which weighed things like availability of employment for students and student loan debt.
Neither University of the Incarnate Word, located in San Antonio, or University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, located in Edinburg, were included among the 500 schools WalletHub ranked. Both schools ranked in the top 5 of lowest student loan debt nationwide. UIW ranked No. 1 and UTRGV third, respectively. Texas Christian University and Baylor, on the other hand, were ranked among the top five highest.
For more information and to read WalletHub’s full college and university rankings, visit WalletHub.
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