The 91破解版 is on the move in the latest Forbes rankings of , rising three spots to No. 43 among public universities. While 鈥檚 institutional vision remains to be ranked among the top 50 public universities by U.S. News & World Report, recognition by Forbes is a strong indicator of 鈥檚 growing national prominence.
鈥淭his latest ranking demonstrates the 91破解版鈥檚 commitment to student success and world-class academic programs. Inclusion in Forbes鈥� list of America鈥檚 Top Colleges is yet another accolade we can be very proud of and a reminder of 鈥檚 momentum as a premier public university.鈥�
鈥� Diane Z. Chase, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Among all colleges and universities, . also ranks No. 78 nationally among research universities (up from No. 85). Forbes鈥� ranking of the top 500 U.S. colleges and universities are based on several factors, including return on investment, average student debt levels and outcomes for graduates. Schools ranked highly on the list if their students returned after their first year, graduated on time, secured high salaries after graduation and left college with low student debt.
鈥檚 strong showing in the Forbes rankings highlights 鈥檚 comprehensive progress across multiple measures of excellence and the University鈥檚 commitment to ensuring all students, no matter their financial circumstances, are graduating and launching thriving careers.
- 鈥檚 overall six-year graduation rate is 65%, which is higher than the state and national average.
- Students are also graduating faster 鈥� on average 4.7 years compared to 5.6 years in 2011 鈥� saving time, tuition and accelerating entry into their careers.
- At , economically disadvantaged students, including Pell Grant recipients, graduate at virtually the same rate as their peers.
- students graduate with the lowest average student loan debt among Texas Tier One universities.
Earlier this year, ranked No. 42 in The Princeton Review鈥檚 鈥淏est Value Colleges鈥� for 2025, highlighting its strong academics, affordability and career prospects for graduates. ranks in the Top 75 in U.S. News & World Report, which releases ranking each fall, and lands at No. 36 in the nation for social mobility, reflecting the University鈥檚 success in helping students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds graduate and move up the economic ladder.
Rankings Methodology
- Alumni Salary (20%): Data from Payscale and College Scorecard is used to determine which colleges produced the highest-paid graduates. The data includes median earnings of alumni six and 10 years after starting school and/or after graduation.
- Student Debt (15%): Data from College Scorecard asses the average federal debt load per student, along with five-year repayment rates.
- Graduation Rate (15%): Evaluates the six-year graduation rate, with 10% of the score based on the rate for all students and 5% on Pell Grant recipients鈥� graduation rates. The Pell graduation rate is indexed with the proportion of recipients to reward colleges that enroll and graduate a larger number of low-income students.
- Forbes鈥� American Leaders List (15%): Tracks the presence of alumni on on prestigious lists like Forbes 30 Under 30, Forbes 400, and Richest Self-Made Women. It also tallies alma maters of notable figures in government, major prize winners and award recipients.
- Return on Investment (15%): Measures the return on investment by comparing the net cost of a college degree to the earnings boost graduates receive compared to high school graduates in their state. A price-to-earnings premium for low-income students is included.
- Retention Rate (10%): Uses a three-year average retention rate to index the percentage of first-year students who return after their freshman year.
- Academic Success (10%): Tallies nationally competitive awards won by undergraduates and alumni, like Fulbright, Truman, Goldwater and Rhodes, as well as the average number of alumni who earned Ph.Ds., weighted by enrollment.