Three universities from the Dallas-Fort Worth area placed high on a recent ranking of top-tier universities in the state.
WalletHub recently unveiled its 2024 ranking of the best colleges and universities in the country, with Southern Methodist University (SMU), the University of Dallas, and Texas Christian University (TCU) making the top 10 in the state.
WalletHub’s analysts used the same methodology to determine the national and state rankings of four-year public and private institutions of higher education this year.
Thirty key metrics stretching across seven different categories were considered for each institution and rated on a score out of 100. Next, a weighted average across all metrics was calculated to determine the school’s overall score.
Some categories contributed more points to the final score than others:
- Student selectivity – 25 points
- Cost and financing – 20 points
- Educational outcomes – 20 points
- Career outcomes – 15 points
- Faculty resources – 10 points
- Campus safety – 5 points
- Campus experience – 5 points
- While the top five spots among universities in Texas were held by Rice University, the University of Texas at Austin, Trinity University, Texas A&M, and Southwestern University, SMU managed to clinch the No.6 spot.
SMU received a weighted score of 59.62 out of 100.
The institution has an admittance rate of 52%, a graduation rate of 75%, a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1, and a freshman retention rate of 91%, according to data from the U.S. News and World Report. The cost of tuition and fees for the 2023-2024 year came out to $64,460, although this bumps up to $83,130 when room and board, transportation, and other expenses are taken into account.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, SMU’s athletic department raised $100 million in just one week in preparation for its move to the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2024.
WalletHub named the University of Dallas No.7 in Texas, giving it an overall score of 59.02 out of 100.
The small private Catholic university in Irving boasts a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a 67% graduation rate, with tuition standing at $50,880 and overall cost estimated at $66,430 for the 2023-2024 year.
The University of Dallas fared much better on WalletHub’s list than the ranking compiled by Niche, in which it landed at No.21 among Texas universities, as covered by The Dallas Express.
Finally, TCU rounded out WalletHub’s top 10 universities in Texas. Placing No.10, it was given an overall score of 57.82 out of 100.
It has an acceptance rate of 56%, an average freshman retention rate of 92%, and a student-faculty ratio of 14:1.
Although tuition and fees for the 2023-2024 year are $57,220, the estimated overall cost is closer to $74,554.
As recently reported by The Dallas Express, TCU just celebrated a record-breaking year as far as its fundraising efforts go. Its latest campaign collected over $1 billion, with funds dedicated to raising the institution to the next level by boosting its endowment, improving its academic reputation, and enhancing the overall student experience.