If you have ever set foot on the Forty Acres, you probably don’t need a reminder of how good it is to be a Longhorn. The perks of bleeding burnt orange are well-documented.
It’s just that sometimes you receive so much praise that it’s hard to keep it straight — a feeling members of Longhorn Nation know well.
So, in the spirit of the season, when so many are reflecting on the past year, here are some ways UT Austin was recognized as one of the best universities in the world in 2016.
1. No. 1 grad programs: U.S. News & World Report ranked the graduate programs in accounting and petroleum engineering No. 1 in the nation.
More than 40 other graduate programs were ranked in the top 10 in the 2016 Best Grad Schools ranking, including the program in civil engineering, which ranked No. 2, and programs in pharmacy, information systems and education administration ranked No. 3.
2. No. 1 best value programs: U.S. News also declared the MBA and law degrees from UT to be the best values in their class.
U.S. News ranked the McCombs MBA as the No. 1 best value in the country and the School of Law as No. 1 on its list of 10 Law Schools Where the Starting Salaries Exceed Debt.
3. Top research institution: UT ranked No. 25 in the world for scientific research in the 2016 Nature Index.
UT ranked No. 16 among U.S. institutions and No. 7 among U.S. public universities on the list, which measures research productivity of the top global institutions by tabulating the articles published in elite natural science journals. UT also had top rankings in three specialty subject areas: Earth and Environmental Sciences (No. 10), Chemistry (No. 18) and Physical Sciences (No. 24).
4. Best value: Forbes and Kiplinger both rated UT as the best college value in Texas.
Forbes ranked UT No. 17 in the U.S. and No. 11 among public colleges. Kiplinger ranked UT No. 13 for best value among public colleges. The American Business Journals’ Business First academic ranking listed UT No. 14 among U.S. public universities and No. 1 in Texas.
5. Best in the world: U.S. News named UT No. 30 on its Best Global Universities list.
The ranking placed UT No. 10 among public universities in the U.S. and No. 1 in Texas. UT was also ranked near the top by other publications including No. 34 in the Times Higher Education’s World Reputation Rankings and No. 32 in the world by the Center for World University Rankings.
6. Innovation: UT is No. 8 on the list of the undergraduate programs that produce the most venture-capital-backed entrepreneurs compiled by Pitchbook.
Among public universities, UT was ranked No. 3 on the list of best places to attend if you want to become your own boss. The university also ranked No. 12 on the list of the 50 Best U.S. Colleges for Aspiring Entrepreneurs by College Choice, which cites on-campus incubators and the surrounding entrepreneurial community of Austin among reasons for the university’s high ranking.
7. Movie moguls: The Hollywood Reporter ranked UT’s Radio-Television-Film program No. 11 on its list of the Top 25 American Film Schools.
Among public universities, UT was No. 2 on the list. The annual ranking is determined by surveys of members of filmmaking guilds and industry insiders. In its description of the program’s attractions, the Hollywood Reporter cited the chance to take RTF alum Matthew McConaughey’s “Script to Screen” class and its location in a city that hosts multiple annual film festivals.
8. Campus treasures: The Harry Ransom Center and Blanton Museum of Art were near the top of lists ranking the best college museums.
The Blanton Museum of Art was ranked No. 8 on Best College Reviews’ list of the Best College Art Museums, and the Harry Ransom Center was ranked No. 13 on College Rank’s list of The 50 Most Amazing College Museums.
9. Healthy horns: UT was ranked No. 17 on the Healthiest Colleges list compiled by Greatist.
The ranking from Greatist noted the university’s innovative use of digital and social media for health promotion and healthy offerings at dining halls. UT was also named No. 5 on The 25 Fittest Colleges in America list compiled by Men’s Fitness. No doubt helping Longhorns stay fit is the fact that the Forty Acres also boasts some serious fitness facilities, landing near the top of multiple lists of the best college recreation centers by Best College Reviews, Outstanding Colleges and College Rank.
10. Happy horns: Business Insider ranked UT No. 1 on their list of 25 colleges where students love life.
As the previous rankings attest, there are plenty of reasons for Longhorns to love life on the Forty Acres, from the incredible value to the elite academics and premier sports programs to its location in the city of Austin and the sheer amount of amenities and opportunities for students — whatever they’re interested in.
And, while it’s nice to see how the university is recognized around the world, it’s important to note that not everything that matters can be measured or captured by a ranking comparison. Some of the most important aspects of the university’s core mission are beyond measurement, as UT President Gregory L. Fenves pointed out during his 2016 State of the University Address.
“Some will measure excellence in terms of rankings and dollars. They are important, but the ultimate measure of success is preparing leaders, transforming society, and creating a better world.” — UT President Gregory L. Fenves
