AUSTIN, Texas — With thousands of universities across the U.S., it can be tough to decide where to pursue your higher education.
Austinites might not have to look far, though. Recently, Forbes shared its annual list of the 500 best colleges across the country, with the University of Texas at Austin in the top 50.
With more than 50,000 students, Texas ranked No. 46 overall. The school offers roughly $8,300 in grant funding, with most students facing an average of $5,800 in debt. Additionally, some 89% of students receive some level of financial aid. Within 10 years of graduating, former students also make an average of $137,000.
UT Austin wasn't the only Texas school on the list, but it was the second highest-ranked in the state, falling short of Houston's Rice University at No. 9.
Following UT Austin was Texas A&M University ranked at No. 70, Trinity University at No. 95, and Southern Methodist University at No. 99.
Other UT branches also made the list, with UT Dallas at No. 126, UT Arlington at No. 253, UT San Antonio at No. 272 and UT El Paso at No. 280.
Meanwhile, another Central Texas school was also included with St. Edward’s University at No. 437.
While UT Austin might’ve made its mark, the top five schools overall are spread through California and the East Coast. For the second year in a row, Princeton University is Forbes’ top choice, followed by Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale University, and the University of California, Berkeley.
How are top colleges chosen?
With thousands of colleges to choose from, how does Forbes narrow down its list?
The media company analyzes a series of categories, including:
- Graduate salaries, which determine how much former students make on average six and ten years post-grad.
- The amount of debt students are in, as well as how many students pay back $1 or more during a five-year period upon graduating.
- The number of students who graduate during a six-year long time frame. Pell Grant recipients are also highlighted.
- Students who are featured on lists such as 'Most Powerful Women.' Those who receive accolades like the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize and NAACP awards are also considered.
- The overall return on investment, which shows how much former students make after finishing their degrees in comparison to high school graduates where they live.
- Academic achievements, including winners of Fulbright and Truman scholarships, as well as those who complete their Ph.D.
This year's list looked at information from 2019, 2021 and 2022, excluding 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
