Texas A&M Is The Best University In Texas…Again

Texas A&M University has solidified its position as the top university in Texas for the second year in a row, according to The Wall Street Journal's 2025 “Best Colleges in the U.S.” rankings. The university climbed ten spots from last year, now holding 28th place nationally and ranking 11th among public institutions. Texas A&M also stands as the highest-ranked school within the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Lets dive into what this means for the school and how they even decide all this stuff!

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The rankings heavily focus on student outcomes, which account for 70% of the overall score. These outcomes include graduate salaries, the time required to repay education costs, and graduation rate impact. Unlike traditional rankings that emphasize reputation or campus size, this approach shines a light on how well graduates fare in the real world. Texas A&M is often recognized for the significant return on investment it provides to its students, with many Aggies achieving high levels of success in their careers, including a notable presence of Aggie CEOs leading Fortune 500 companies.

A new element in the rankings this year is the introduction of a "character score," which measures how well universities foster personal traits like moral courage, resilience, and a sense of justice. General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III, Texas A&M's president, praised the university's commitment to shaping leaders who embody these values, noting that the school's Core Values remain central to its mission.

Among other Texas schools, Rice University also made the list, securing the No. 29 spot. The rankings were developed in collaboration with College Pulse and Statista.