Three Austin-Area Universities Earn National Honors in Princeton Review Rankings

Three universities in the Austin area have earned national recognition in The Princeton Review’s Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition, released August 12. 

The University of Texas at Austin, Southwestern University in Georgetown, and Texas State University in San Marcos all secured spots in the prestigious guide, which is based on surveys of more than 170,000 college students nationwide. 

The annual publication evaluates schools across 50 categories, ranging from academics and career services to campus life and political climate. Although it does not assign a single overall numerical rank, it identifies the top 25 schools in each category. The guide also clarifies that while inclusion is not pay-to-play, universities can pay for a “featured” designation—something only Southwestern University did among the three Austin-area schools. 

UT Austin earned wide-ranging recognition, appearing not only in the overall Best 391 Colleges list but also in the Best Southwest, Best Value Colleges, Colleges That Create Futures, and Green Colleges lists. Its profile praised the school for offering “an infinite number of possibilities” to students. “With over 40,000 undergrads on campus, UT Austin is ‘a huge school and has a lot to offer,’ including ‘experts in every field you can imagine’ — to be precise, more than 3,000 faculty and 156 degree programs,” the profile stated. 

The flagship university also ranked highly across several specialty categories: No. 2 in Top Southwest Schools for Entrepreneurship Studies, No. 14 in Best Value Public Colleges, and No. 25 in Happiest Students. Its alumni association, the Texas Exes, was recognized as the third-best public alumni network in the country. Southwestern University, the oldest institution of higher education in Texas, was listed in Best Value Colleges, Best Southwest, and Green Colleges. Its student profile emphasized strong teaching and campus engagement. “Founded in 1840 … you’ll engage in dynamic classroom discussions, real-world learning experiences, and cocurricular activities that empower you to think creatively and critically,” the profile said. 

Southwestern earned standout placements for professor quality (No. 12), career services (No. 19), and intramural sports participation (No. 24). Texas State University also appeared in the Best Southwest and Green Colleges lists, praised for its STEM programs and dedicated faculty. “I can’t emphasize how much I love my professors and coursework,” one student wrote. “Honestly, school has felt like a hobby these past years that I have thoroughly enjoyed.” 

Texas State also earned recognition in less flattering categories, ranking No. 25 for “least politically active students” and No. 20 for schools where “financial aid [is] not so great.” Other Texas institutions featured in the 2026 edition include Rice University, Texas A&M, Baylor University, Trinity University, and Southern Methodist University.

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