Texas College Rankings 2026: Rice Climbs to Top Spot

If you have a high school student at home who is nearing graduation, you've probably already begun the process of looking for colleges and universities. It can be stressful trying to help your child make the best decision for their academic future.

WalletHub recently released its updated college and university rankings for 2026. The number one spot in Texas might come as a bit of a surprise.

Heading into 2025, the University of Texas at Austin claimed the number one spot when it came to colleges in the state. Their acceptance rate and average SAT and ACT scores put them over the top.

Rice’s Top Scores: The Five Winning Metrics

For 2026, the updated rankings feature a shakeup, with Rice University moving up to claim the title as the top university in Texas. There are seven criteria used in the rankings, and Rice scored number one in five of them.

Rice, according to the current ranking, is number one in:

Admission Rate
Student - Faculty Ratio
Gender & Racial Diversity
Graduation Rate
Post-Attendance Median Salary

Weak Spots: Crime and Net Cost Challenges

The areas they didn't score as high in are campus crime (45th) and net cost (45th). The University of Texas at Austin, by the way, fell to the number two spot in the 2026 rankings.

Implications for Students and Parents

Finding the right university or college to attend after high school can be a stressful process. It's a big investment in your future, and you want to make sure you're making the right decision.

For more information, check out the full rankings and report on the WalletHub website.