A new college ranking list naming the best 25 colleges and universities in the Lone Star State was just published.
Niche, a popular ranking and review site, recently released its 2024 list of Best Colleges in Texas.
The comprehensive assessment considered academic, admission, financial, and student life data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation and roughly 500,000 reviews from students and alumni.
However, it dropped factors related to standardized testing from its calculations to account for the many higher education institutions that have opted out of requiring college hopefuls to submit SAT or ACT scores with their applications.
Here is a closer look at the top 10 colleges in Texas, as identified by Niche.
No.1 Rice University
Houston’s Rice University got the top honors not only in Niche’s list but also in a ranking compiled by U.S. News and World Report.
While 50 different undergraduate programs are offered at Rice, Niche highlighted its colleges of kinesiology and physical therapy, sports management, and art.
No.2 University of Texas at Austin
While admission to the University of Texas at Austin is quite competitive, given that the acceptance rate is 29%, Niche named it No.6 in its nationwide ranking of public universities.
Students stressed the quality of teaching, with 83% of respondents in Niche’s survey saying that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.
No.3 Texas A&M University
Niche noted that Texas A&M boasts a world-class education and draws in students from around the world because of its top-rated agricultural sciences program.
As reported by The Dallas Express, Clay Mathis was recently named head of the Department of Animal Science. As a specialist in the cow-calf business sector, Mathis aims to bolster the department’s research initiatives to make it the country’s leading applied research center.
No.4 Trinity University
San Antonio’s Trinity University slid into fourth place on Niche’s list, whereas U.S. News & World Report ranked it at No.27.
The private institution was highlighted for its small size, liberal arts program, and absence of an application fee.
No.5 Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University in Dallas is no stranger to finding itself on college rankings.
It was named the top Christian college in the country, and its sports management program was featured as one of the best.
No.6 Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University in Fort Worth came in right on SMU’s heels on Niche’s list.
It was named the second-best Christian college in the country while also earning high marks for its campus and finance program.
No.7 Texas Tech University
Texas Tech in Lubbock received excellent reviews from students and alums, with many emphasizing the student body’s diversity and the town’s charm.
Its top-rated programs include communications, agricultural sciences, and education.
No.8 University of Houston
The University of Houston boasts a large student body, with 27,648 undergraduates enrolled in 2023.
Most students gravitate towards its liberal arts offerings and top-rated accounting and finance program.
No.9 University of Texas – Permian Basin
UT Permian Basin is a small institution with a faculty-student ratio of 12:1. It also has a top-rated criminal justice program.
There is no need to worry about getting stuck in West Texas either since “hop-on” air carrier JSX will be expanding its service to Odessa from Houston and Dallas next year, as reported by The Dallas Express.
No.10 Baylor University
As part of the Big 12 Conference, it might come as no surprise that Baylor is one of the top-rated colleges in the nation for athletics and student-athletes.
However, the school also has some top-performing programs, including music, communications, and finance.
While the following institutions did not make it onto Niche’s top 10, they still earned a place among the best 25 colleges:
- No.11 University of Texas – Tyler
- No.12 University of North Texas
- No.13 University of Houston – Clear Lake
- No.14 University of Texas – Dallas
- No. 15 Texas State University
- No.16 University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley
- No.17 University of Houston – Victoria
- No.18 University of the Incarnate Word
- No.19 Angelo State University
- No.20 LeTourneau University
- No.21 University of Dallas
- No.22 Abilene Christian University
- No.23 Texas A&M International University
- No.24 Tarleton State University
- No.25 University of Texas – Arlington