Head of the class
San Antonio university beats UT Austin in new Texas college rankings
Trinity University has landed near the top of a new college ranking.
With early application season in full swing, a local university is racking up accolades on a new list of the 10 best Texas colleges for 2027.
Trinity University ranked as the No. 2 best university in Texas in WalletHub's annual "College & University Rankings" report, showing San Antonio students don't have to travel out of state to earn a top-notch degree.
WalletHub analyzed 738 colleges and universities in the U.S. using 30 relevant metrics, including factors like student-faculty ratios, graduation rates, and many more. Universities were ranked nationally, regionally, and across seven key dimensions: student selectivity; cost and financing; faculty resources; campus safety; campus experience; educational outcomes; and career outcomes.
Rice University in Houston claimed the top spot as Texas' No. 1 university for 2027. The Southern Ivy also ranked No. 11 nationwide.
In addition to its high statewide rating, Trinity University ranked No. 12 in the regional comparison of best universities in the South, and appeared 49th nationally.
Across the seven main categories, Trinity performed best for its faculty resources (No. 40), student selectivity (No. 72), and educational outcomes (No. 100). The private institution ranked just outside the top 100 for its campus experience (No. 107) and career outcomes (No. 130).
Trinity only lagged behind in the national rankings for cost and financing (No. 512) and campus safety (No. 567), but neither category swayed the university's overall performance.
Two more local schools ranked among the best universities in the South: St. Mary's University (No. 192) and The University of Texas at San Antonio (No. 195).
The San Antonio universities have earned heaps of national and worldwide praise this year from prestigious educational review authorities U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review. Trinity University also ranked among the top five best Texas universities in Niche's 2027 list.
These are WalletHub's top 10 best colleges and universities in Texas for 2027:
- No. 1 – Rice University
- No. 2 – Trinity University
- No. 3 – The University of Texas at Austin
- No. 4 – Texas A&M University-College Station
- No. 5 – Southwestern University
- No. 6 – University of Dallas
- No. 7 – Austin College
- No. 8 – Texas Christian University
- No. 9 – LeTourneau University
- No. 10 – The University of Texas at Dallas

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