Undergraduate Programs Make Strides in U.S. News Rankings

The University of Texas at Dallas stands alone as North Texas' top public university in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, released Sept. 23.

UT Dallas is the third-ranked public school in the state, trailing UT Austin and Texas A&M University. The University ranks 54th among all public schools in the U.S., having climbed 22 spots over the last decade.

"UT Dallas is an extraordinary institution on the rise. The academic and research initiatives emerging from our university benefit Dallas, the North Texas region and the world," said UT Dallas President Prabhas V. Moghe. "With such remarkable momentum, I believe our greatest achievements still lie ahead. I would like to thank our dedicated faculty, staff, students, alumni and supporters for making this recognition possible."

The Naveen Jindal School of Management climbed to 51st in the nation among undergraduate business programs, remaining third among public schools in Texas. The undergraduate business analytics program consolidated its Top 20 national position at No. 19, while the management program climbed five spots to a tie for 33rd.

"It is gratifying to see that our programs have been included among the top public business programs in the nation. We are honored to be recognized among the leaders in preparing tomorrow's business leaders," said Dr. Hasan Pirkul, Caruth Chair and Jindal School dean.

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science rose to 77th nationally among undergraduate engineering programs, tying for third with the University of Houston among public schools in Texas.

The undergraduate economics program in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences jumped 68 spots to No. 112 in the country, and the undergraduate psychology program in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences leapt 34 spots to No. 130. Both programs rank fourth among Texas public schools.

U.S. News & World Report evaluated more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities, using up to 17 factors to measure academic quality and graduate success. The data include measures such as academic reputation, graduation rates, first-year retention rates and return on investment, as well as resources for students and faculty.

Media Contact: Stephen Fontenot, UT Dallas, 972-883-4405, [email protected], or the Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, [email protected].