The University of Texas at Austin and Texas State University in San Marcos are earning new national acclaim in a just-released report of the best graduate schools in the U.S. for 2026.

U.S. News & World Report annually publishes its national "Best Graduate Schools" rankings in early April, which comprehensively scores graduate programs across business, education, engineering, law, health, and many other disciplines.

New for the 2026 edition, the publication updated its rankings across 12 health disciplines — only physician assistant and social work were excluded — and "the first full refresh" of doctoral science programs since 2022. U.S. News also revived its Master's in Fine Arts rankings for the first time since 2020.

"We know a graduate degree is a major commitment,” said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor of Education at U.S. News. “That is why we are dedicated to methodologies that thoroughly examine a wide range of factors, from research excellence to career success. These rankings are a powerful tool for prospective students, offering clarity and confidence as they approach their most critical educational choice."

The University of Texas at Austin has once again topped the charts as the best graduate school in Texas. It swept all first place rankings in U.S. News' statewide categories for the Best Engineering Schools, Best Education Schools, Best Law Schools, Best Business Schools, and Best Nursing Schools.

Texas State University, a public university halfway between Austin and San Antonio, boasts the 10th best graduate education school in Texas.

This is how the local schools ranked nationally, and how they compared with last year's national ranking:

University of Texas at Austin

• Cockrell School of Engineering – No. 6 best graduate engineering school (up from No. 7 last year)
• College of Education – No. 6 best graduate education school (unchanged)
• McCombs School of Business – No. 18 best graduate business school (down from No. 16 last year)
• School of Law – No. 16 best law school (down from No. 14 last year)
• School of Nursing – No. 18 best master’s in nursing program (down from No. 12 last year)

Several of UT Austin’s graduate health programs are among the top 20 in the nation, including pharmacy (No. 8), speech-language pathology (No. 13), clinical psychology (No. 15), and audiology (No. 18). In the doctoral sciences rankings, four more programs ranked among the top 20 nationwide: earth sciences (No. 4), mathematics (No. 12), physics (No. 14), and chemistry (No. 17). The Ph.D. physics program ranked as 26th best in the nation, and the biological sciences program ranked No. 41. UT Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs ranked as the 14th best in the U.S., and the fine arts program ranked 34th nationally.

Texas State University in San Marcos

• College of Education – No. 144 best graduate education school (down from No. 132 last year)

Texas State’s graduate healthcare management program is the 53rd best in the nation, the physical therapy program ranked as No. 97, and its speech-language pathology program ranked as No. 139 nationally. The university’s public affairs program ranked No. 177 nationally.