University of St. Thomas (UST) has been recognized as the #1 university in Texas for Social Mobility, according to U.S. News & World Report’s “2026 Best Colleges” rankings list, released today.
Nationally, the university ranks:
As one of Texas' top 10 universities, these achievements reflect UST’s Catholic mission to provide a transformative education for students from all backgrounds, particularly those who are economically disadvantaged.
“Being recognized as the top university in Texas for social mobility is a powerful affirmation of our mission and the success of our students,” said Dr. Sinda K. Vanderpool, UST President. “UST works to provide meaningful pathways to education for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds, and we firmly believe in providing the resources, community and academic excellence every student needs to thrive.”
UST moved up seven spots after being ranked #15 in Social Mobility nationwide in 2025.
For its Social Mobility rankings, U.S. News & World Report assesses Pell Grant recipients to study how well schools graduate economically disadvantaged students, who are less likely than their peers to finish college.
Approximately 80 percent of undergraduate students at UST receive financial aid, and more than one-third are Pell Grant eligible. UST’s robust financial aid services grant deserving students access to a quality education, which ultimately leads to improved outcomes.
“This speaks volumes about UST’s uniqueness and ability to focus on the core values of our Basilian founders: goodness, discipline, knowledge and community,” Dr. Vanderpool said. “By expanding already strong fundamentals, we will continue to realize the incredible potential of UST, continuing to improve our standings amongst peer institutions year over year.”