UT Austin Ranks No. 46 in Forbes’ 2025 Best Colleges List, Second in Texas

The University of Texas at Austin has secured a position in the top 50 of Forbes’ 2025 ranking of America’s best colleges, coming in at No. 46 nationwide and second overall in Texas.

The yearly compilation showcases 500 institutions nationwide that Forbes claims “generate successful, high-earning, and influential graduates from diverse economic backgrounds, with reduced student debt.” Rankings consider return on investment, graduate outcomes, and average student debt.

The national rankings were led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with Columbia University and Princeton University following closely behind. Rice University in Houston was the highest-ranked among Texas schools, coming in at No. 12.

UT Austin, boasting an undergraduate population of nearly 56,000 and a 29 percent acceptance rate, is recognized for its robust academics, rich traditions, and extensive alumni network. The annual cost of attendance is approximately $62,672, as reported by Forbes, while students typically benefit from an average of $12,060 in grant aid. On average, graduates depart with roughly $6,066 in debt.

The publication highlighted the university’s culture and traditions, featuring events such as the Forty Acres Fest, the Texas Revue talent show, and the UT Tower lighting ceremonies. The school boasts a distinguished list of alumni, featuring actor Matthew McConaughey, comedian Owen Wilson, former First Lady Laura Bush, and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.

UT Austin achieved a ranking of No. 9 among Southern universities and No. 39 among research universities.

Three more institutions in the Austin area have been recognized: St. Edward’s University (No. 293), Southwestern University in Georgetown (No. 304), and Texas State University in San Marcos (No. 408).

In Texas, Texas A&M University in College Station achieved a ranking of No. 61, while Trinity University in San Antonio secured the No. 82 spot. Additional Texas institutions that fall outside the top 100 rankings are Southern Methodist University (No. 103), University of Houston (No. 107), Texas Christian University (No. 120), and Texas Tech University (No. 161).

According to Forbes’ report, 2025 has proven to be a challenging year for American colleges, marked by federal funding freezes, stricter student loan regulations, and increased political scrutiny of higher education. Nevertheless, the magazine stated that U.S. universities “are providing gold-standard undergraduate education.”

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