By Amanda A. Taylor-Uchoa

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – Another reputable national publication has singled out UTRGV for the value it provides students.

Money Magazine has named UTRGV a top college in its list of Best Colleges, which focuses on the overall value of education among the 2,400 four-year colleges it reviewed.

UTRGV ranked third in Texas, right behind Texas A&M and UT Austin, and 76th in the country.

UTRGV President Guy Bailey said being ranked alongside some of the top universities in Texas is a reflection of UTRGV’s solid commitment to ensure that each student is getting a high-value education at a reasonable price.  

“UTRGV has, time and time again, been recognized for providing students a valuable education at a time when value is being questioned,” Bailey said. “This pattern of being recognized by top media organizations reiterates that the programs and initiatives we have instituted at UTRGV have been working toward overall student success.”

Here is Money’s Best Colleges in America list, ranked by value in Texas schools:  

27. Texas A&M 
28. UT Austin 
29. UTRGV 
30. North Texas at Dallas 
31. West Texas A&M 
32. Texas A&M International 
33. UT Dallas 
34. Houston 
35. UT Permian Basin 
36. St. Thomas (Houston) 
37. Trinity (San Antonio) 
38. Sam Houston State 
39. Texas Tech 
40. North Texas  
41. Texas State 
42. Austin College 
43. Texas Christian 
44. Tarleton State 
45. University of Dallas 
46. Southwestern 

 

UTRGV AND ITS GROWING SUCCESS  

UTRGV has established a pattern for being recognized for value by key media organizations, and has been included in top rankings from the following organizations:  

• Forbes.com Top Colleges for Your Money – Ranked No. 8 nationally and No. 1 in Texas.
   
• U.S. News and World Report Least Student Debt Among Public Universities – Ranked No. 2 nationally and No. 1 in Texas
   
• Washington Monthly Lowest Net Price of Attendance – Ranked No. 6 nationally and No. 1 in Texas
   
• ThirdWay.org Top Schools That Offer the Most Economic Mobility – Ranked No. 4 nationally and No. 2 in Texas. 

MONEY’S RANKING METHODOLOGY 

Money’s Best Colleges list is compiled based on colleges with sufficient data and above-average graduation rates, as well as being scored in three specific areas: quality, affordability and outcomes.  

Quality is measured on graduation rate per college, and affordability is calculated by weighing the net price of a degree, student and parent borrowing, and loan repayment rates.  

Median earnings are considered in the area of outcomes, which includes the share of alumni working and the share of alumni earning more than a high school graduate.  

Value-added calculations were also a focus in the list, comparing a school’s performance against its predicted performance, accounting for standardized test scores and the percentage of low-income students among enrollees.