# TCU and SMU surge while UT and A&M stumble

> Texas universities split sharply in new rankings as U.S. News emphasizes graduate earnings.
- Title: TCU and SMU surge while UT and A&M stumble · Dallas Express
- Summary: Texas universities split sharply in new rankings as U.S. News emphasizes graduate earnings. TCU jumped seven spots and SMU climbed three in the 2027 U.S…
- Keywords: tcu, smu, ut austin, texas a&m, rice university, u.s. news rankings, college rankings, graduate earnings, texas universities, higher education, methodology change, news
- Source: Dallas Express — https://dallasexpress.com/education/tcu-jumps-ut-and-texas-am-slide-in-new-u-s-news-college-rankings
- Author: Dallas Express
- Published: 2026-09-22T21:00:01+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: tcu, smu, ut austin, texas a&m, rice university, u.s. news rankings, college rankings, graduate earnings, texas universities, higher education, methodology change, news
## Texas schools split in new rankings
TCU jumped seven spots to No. 90 and SMU climbed three to No. 85 in the 2027 U.S. News rankings released Tuesday. Meanwhile, UT Austin dropped four spots to No. 34 and Texas A&M fell eight places to No. 59.
## Rice stays Texas's top school
Rice University moved up one spot to No. 16 nationally, remaining the highest-ranked school in Texas. Six Texas universities landed in the national top 100.
## New formula rewards graduate earnings
U.S. News placed greater emphasis on how much graduates earn within their fields, particularly among students who received federal financial aid. This shift helped MIT reach No. 1, ending Princeton's 15-year run at the top.
## Why the methodology matters
The earnings emphasis reflects growing concerns about college costs, debt, and whether expensive degrees produce sufficient financial returns. Methodological changes can produce dramatic year-to-year swings in rankings.
## Critics say rankings oversimplify
Critics argue that national rankings can oversimplify differences among universities and place too much emphasis on factors that favor wealthy institutions.
## Supporters see value in comparisons
Supporters contend that rankings provide useful comparisons of graduation rates, student outcomes, and academic resources when considered alongside cost and individual academic needs.
## North Texas gains recognition
Beyond the main rankings, the University of North Texas tied at No. 26 nationally in U.S. News's social mobility category, which measures how effectively universities enroll and graduate economically disadvantaged students.
## Key takeaway

TCU jumped seven spots and SMU climbed three in the 2027 U.S. News rankings, while UT Austin and Texas A&M both fell, reflecting a methodological shift toward measuring graduate earnings.