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UT News

UT Austin Is Once Again Named Among the World’s Leading Universities

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Tower from CMB during the day and at sunset 2010

AUSTIN, Texas — The latest edition of the World University Rankings by Subject is naming 41 subject areas and programs at The University of Texas Austin among the top in the world.

Among the highlights, petroleum engineering retained its rank at No. 2 this year and held high ranks in overall reputation and research citation rates. Communication and media studies moved up one spot to No. 4. In total, nine subjects are ranked among the top 25.

Of the 41 academic disciplines at the university that are in the 2021 subject rankings, more than a third of them improved their positions this year.

The rankings, compiled by higher education analysts QS Quacquarelli Symonds, are based on a variety of factors including research impact and overall academic and employer reputation. The rankings looked at the performance of 14,435 individual university programs at 1,452 universities in 86 locations around the world.

“These rankings reflect the high-impact research and creative problem-solving UT Austin is known for and illustrate the immense societal value of leading research universities,” said Dan Jaffe, interim executive vice president and provost. “Without our world-class faculty and exceptionally talented students, this level of academic excellence would not be possible.”

Other notable improvements include:

  • Library and information management moved up three spots to No. 15.
  • Civil engineering moved up seven spots to No. 20.
  • Chemistry moved up seven spots to No. 21.

UT Austin has been recognized as a top university by other recent publications, including U.S. News & World Report, which ranked UT Austin No. 38 in the world in its Best Global Universities ranking. Five specialty programs ranked No. 1, and 48 schools and specialties ranked among the nation’s top 10. The university also received national recognition for Latino student success.

Top Ranked Specific Subject Areas – The University of Texas at Austin
Subject 2021 2020
Petroleum Engineering 2 2
Communication & Media Studies 4 5
Library and Information Management 15 18
Engineering – Chemical 22 20
Earth & Marine Sciences 21 24
Geology 22 26
Mathematics 30 26
Engineering – Civil & Structural 20 27
Geophysics 22 27
Engineering – Electrical & Electronic 29 28
Chemistry 21 28
English Language & Literature 33 30
History 27 30
Computer Science & Information Systems 28 31
Physics & Astronomy 34 31
Psychology 36 33
Anthropology 44 35
Accounting & Finance 36 37
Architecture / Built Environment 40 38
Archaeology 48 39
Materials Science 31 39
Education 44 39
Engineering – Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing 37 40
Environmental Sciences 48 46
Sociology 48 47
Linguistics 45 48
Statistics & Operational Research 51-100 49
Modern Languages 48 51-100
Performing Arts 51-100 51-100
Philosophy 51-100 51-100
Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies 51-100 51-100
Biological Sciences 80 51-100
Nursing 51-100 51-100
Business & Management Studies 54 51-100
Economics & Econometrics 68 51-100
Law 101-150 51-100
Politics & International Studies 51-100 51-100
Social Policy & Administration 101-120 51-100
Pharmacy & Pharmacology 57 51-100
Art & Design 151-200 101-150
Medicine 151-200 not ranked