August 22, 2026
August 22, 2026
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UT Austin’s Geosciences, Engineering, Education, Law, Business Schools in Top 15 in New US News Rankings

The University of Texas at Austin’s graduate schools in business, education, engineering, geosciences and law are all ranked among the Top 15 in the nation and the university’s accounting program is No. 1 in the nation, according to U.S.

Kim Berger
6 minutes

The University of Texas at Austin’s graduate schools in business, education, engineering, geosciences and law are all ranked among the Top 15 in the nation and the university’s accounting program is No. 1 in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2015 edition of “Best Graduate Schools,” released this morning.

In all, approximately 30 science, humanities and professional programs are ranked in the Top 15 nationally, according to the rankings, which are based on quantitative and qualitative measures, including GRE scores, student/faculty ratio, research expenditures, job placement success and ratings of academic experts, national faculty members and administrators.

The Jackson School of Geosciences is tied 8th best in Earth Sciences (4th among public universities), up one spot from its previous ranking. The College of Education is 10th best in the nation (4th among publics). The Cockrell School of Engineering is 10th best (6th among publics), climbing one rank from last year. The McCombs School of Business is 15th best (4th among publics), climbing two places from last year. The University of Texas School of Law is at No. 15 (4th among publics), just as it was last year.

Several other graduate schools at UT Austin remain nationally ranked according to U.S. News and World Report data from 2011 – 2013 that was not revised this year. (The publication does not rank every discipline in every year). The College of Pharmacy remains No. 4 both overall and among publics; the School of Information (iSchool) remains No. 6 in Library and Information Sciences (5th among publics); the School of Social Work’s master’s program remains No. 7 (4th among publics); and the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs remains No. 16 (8th among publics).

“We are focused on making UT Austin the best public research university in America. This year’s rankings demonstrate that our goal remains within reach and that our graduate students and faculty are central in our efforts to achieve and maintain excellence,” said President Bill Powers, who also serves as chair of the Association of American Universities. “Strong graduate programs elevate the entire university as well as the state and nation.”

The report also includes rankings for some individual graduate programs. Those ranked in the Top 5 according to the new data include:

The graduate programs’ sustained excellence helps generate new knowledge and cultivate an intellectual environment that directly benefits UT Austin’s undergraduate mission and its students.

The top rankings for graduate programs are also consistent with other rankings for UT Austin, which has been named the 27th best university in the world (Times Higher Education), the 52nd best overall university in the United States (U.S. News and World Report) and the 21st best value among public colleges (Kiplinger). UT Austin has maintained these levels of excellence and improved in many rankings despite cuts in state support over the past decade. The university also receives less money through state allocations and tuition than its national peers and, as of 2011, was the second most efficient public research university in the U.S.

UT Austin graduate schools and programs ranked in the Top 30 based on new data this year are listed below. These rankings are drawn from early figures released by U.S. News and World Report and could grow when fuller lists are published. Check utexas.edu/news for the most up-to-date lists:

UT Austin graduate schools and programs that remain in the Top 30 based on previous data that is only updated every several years (and was not revised this year) include:

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