U.S. News and World Report: UTRGV No. 1 in Texas public universities for social mobility

University excels at helping students graduate and improve their economic standing

By Amanda A. Taylor-Uchoa

When it comes to transforming the lives of its students, UTRGV stands as the top institution in Texas, according to the 2025 U.S. News and World Report college rankings.

U.S. News ranked UTRGV No. 1 among Texas public universities for social mobility, recognizing the university’s success in helping students improve their economic standing.

Social mobility measures how well a university supports students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, in graduating, securing well-paying careers, and enhancing their financial prospects and quality of life for both themselves and their families.

U.S. News and World Report ranked UTRGV No. 1 among Texas public universities for social mobility, recognizing the university’s success in helping students improve their economic standing.

Overall, UTRGV this year continued its steady rise in the U.S. News rankings, climbing seven spots to rank 220th among all national universities, 119th among public national universities, and sixth overall among public Texas universities. Among UT System schools, UTRGV ranked third behind UT Austin and UT-Dallas.

Over the past two years, UTRGV has moved up an impressive 79 spots in the rankings, surpassing older and more established institutions.

UTRGV President Guy Bailey said the university’s rapid rise in reputation just over nine years is unprecedented. Earlier this semester, UTRGV was ranked as the No. 1 university in Texas by Washington Monthly for the second consecutive year.

The difference between the U.S. News and Washington Monthly rankings lies primarily in their evaluation methods. Washington Monthly focuses entirely on university outcomes based solely on publicly reported data, without considering reputation or institutional resources. In contrast, U.S. News combines both outputs and inputs, placing significant weight on reputation, which is partly derived from surveys sent to university leaders nationwide.

Bailey acknowledged that assessments based heavily on reputation can be challenging for UTRGV, which is just entering its 10th year, but noted that the university’s continued rise in both rankings is a strong indicator of its success.

“UTRGV’s incredible rise in rankings is not by chance – it’s the result of unwavering dedication from our entire community,” Bailey said. “There is no university in the nation whose reputation is rising as fast as ours, and that speaks to the exceptional efforts of our students, faculty and staff. I’m proud of everything we’ve achieved together, and grateful for each of you who makes this institution what it is today.”

THE RANKINGS

UTRGV also was recognized among public universities in the following categories: Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (No Doctorate), and Best Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

While UTRGV’s College of Engineering now offers two doctoral programs, these rankings were determined before its introduction.

U.S. News & World Report evaluates colleges based on a variety of factors, including graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving. UTRGV’s continued ascent in these rankings underscores the university’s dedication to providing exceptional education and opportunities for its students.

For more detailed information on UTRGV’s rankings, visit U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges.