University of Texas students walk through campus on the first day of classes Monday, Aug. 25, 2025.
Austin American-Statesman/Hearst/The Austin American-Statesman vi
U.S. News and World Report released its 2026-27 Best Global Universities list, and a handful of institutions from the Lone Star State made an appearance, with several hailing from Houston.
Global rankings are largely research-oriented and are calculated based on 13 weighted indicators, ranging from global research reputation to international collaboration.
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Among more than 2,200 universities spanning more than 100 countries, 275 American institutions made the cut, including the following 20 from Texas:
University of Texas at Austin
Location: 2515 Speedway, Austin.
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Home of the Longhorns, the University of Texas at Austin has about 55,000 students on a 441-acre main campus, according to the university website. The institution has 156 undergraduate degree programs, 139 graduate degree programs and 4,600 faculty members.
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
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Location: 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas.
One of the largest medical schools in the country, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center trains nearly 4,000 medical, graduate, and health professions students, residents, clinical and postdoctoral fellows annually, according to its website.
Baylor College of Medicine
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Location: 1 Baylor Plz, Houston.
Baylor College of Medicine has roughly 830 medical students, 620 graduate school students, 1,100 clinical residents, 270 health professions students and 540 postdoctoral scholars, according to the college website. The college highlights the “exceptional caliber” of its more than 6,000 faculty members.
Texas A&M University College Station
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Location: 400 Bizzell St, College Station.
With a total enrollment around 74,000, Texas A&M University College Station has a 5,200 acre main campus, according to the university website. The university system boasts more than 140 undergraduate, 175 master’s and more than 90 doctoral degree programs.
Rice University
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Location: 6100 Main St, Houston.
Rice University sits at the intersection of Houston’s Rice Village, Medical Center and Museum District. Home of the owls, Rice is a 300-acre campus with about 4,700 undergraduate and 4,100 graduate students, according to the university website.
University of Texas at San Antonio
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Location: 1 UTSA Circle, San Antonio.
The University of Texas San Antonio describes itself as San Antonio’s “only Tier 1 research-intensive academic health center and academic institution, nationally recognized for its research innovation, doctoral education and impact,” on its website. The university has roughly 42,000 students and 3,600 faculty members.
University of Texas Health Science Center Houston
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Location: 7000 Fannin St, Houston.
University of Texas Health Science Center Houston has roughly 5,000 students and 34 degree and certification programs, according to its website. The university says its graduates are “prepared to advance discovery, improve lives, and create a healthier future for Texas and beyond.”
University of Houston
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Location: 4302 University Dr, Houston.
Located right in the heart of downtown Houston, UH has about 49,000 students and 3,500 faculty members, according to the university website. The university says UH is “where learning meets opportunity,” highlighting “world-class faculty, cutting-edge research opportunities and a wealth of resources.”
Baylor University
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Location: 1311 S 5th St, Waco.
Located in Waco, Baylor is the world’s largest Baptist university. It has a total enrollment around 20,000, hosting students from all 50 states and 90 countries, according to its website.
University of Texas Dallas
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Location: 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson.
The University of Texas Dallas has a student population around 30,100, according to its website. The university has 160 academic programs with nationally-ranked programs in STEM, management, liberal arts and social sciences majors.
Texas Tech University
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Location: 2500 Broadway St, Lubbock.
Founded in 1923, Texas Tech University has an 1,839-acre campus in Lubbock, according to its website. The university has ten colleges and 150 academic programs.
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston
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Location: 301 University Blvd, Galveston.
UTMB opened in 1891 as the nation’s first public medical school and hospital under unified leadership, according to its website. It has a total enrollment around 3,600.
University of North Texas Denton
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Location: 1155 Union Cir, Denton.
University of North Texas Denton is one of the largest universities in the U.S., according to its website. It offers offer 116 bachelor’s, 87 master’s and 39 doctoral degrees.
University of Texas Arlington
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Location: 701 S Nedderman Dr, Arlington.
The fifth largest university in Texas and the second largest in the UT system, the University of Texas Arlington has a Research 1 designation and a student body around 42,000, according to its website.
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
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Location: 1201 W University Dr, Edinburg.
UTRGV is home to 35,000 students, including about 820 international students, according to its website. The university describes itself as “the only university in Texas with both a School of Medicine and a School of Podiatric Medicine.”
University of Texas El Paso
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Location: 500 W University Ave, El Paso.
Located on the U.S.-Mexico border, UTEP has an enrollment around 26,000 with 169 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in eight colleges and schools, according to its website.
Texas State University San Marcos
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Location: 601 University Dr, San Marcos.
The flagship TXST campus, Texas State University San Marcos was founded in 1851, according to its website.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Lubbock
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Location: 3601 4th St STOP 6238, Lubbock.
The Lubbock flagship “provides a unique opportunity for students to broaden their knowledge across six leading schools in healthcare education,” according to the university website.
Texas Christian University
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Location: 2800 S University Dr, Fort Worth.
TCU has about 11,100 undergraduate students and 1,800 graduate students, according to its website. The university has 709 full-time faculty and a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Sam Houston State University
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Location: 1905 University Ave, Huntsville.
The last Texas university on the list is Sam Houston State University. Located about an hour north of Houston, SHSU has more than 170 degree programs across nine colleges, according to its website.