UTRGV ranked among the top-rated colleges nationwide, joining roughly 10% of institutions on Money’s 2026 Best Colleges list to earn 4.5 stars or higher.
Average price after aid estimated at just $5,570, lowest among Texas institutions on list
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Announcements, Rankings and Achievements, Accolades
By News and Media Relations
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – SEPT. 8, 2026 – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has earned a 4.5 out of five-star rating in Money’s 2026 Best Colleges, recognizing the university for its educational quality, affordability and student outcomes.
Money evaluated more than 2,400 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges nationwide. UTRGV was among 735 institutions that met the publication’s requirements for inclusion. Only about 10% of the institutions on Money’s 2026 Best Colleges list received a rating of 4.5 stars or higher, placing UTRGV among the highest-rated colleges in the nation. Forty-two institutions received the publication’s highest rating of five stars.
“Earning a 4.5-star rating from Money reflects UTRGV’s commitment to providing students with a high-quality education that remains within reach for families across the Rio Grande Valley,” UTRGV President Guy Bailey said. “Our focus has always been on creating opportunity, supporting students through graduation and preparing them to build successful futures without taking on overwhelming debt.”
Other Texas public universities receiving a 4.5-star rating included Texas A&M University, The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas at Dallas and the University of North Texas at Dallas.
Rather than assigning each institution a numerical rank, Money uses a five-star rating system to help students and families compare colleges based on educational quality, affordability and student outcomes.
A STRONG VALUE FOR STUDENTS
In its UTRGV profile, Money highlighted the university’s low costs and extensive financial assistance, saying students receive “some serious bang for their buck.”
For the 2026–27 academic year, Money estimates UTRGV’s full cost of attendance for an in-state student at $26,260. After average financial aid, that estimated price falls nearly 79% to $5,570, the lowest among Texas institutions on the list. For students from low-income households, the estimated average price drops even further, to $3,785.
According to Money, 93% of UTRGV undergraduates receive grants and 98% receive need-based grants. UTRGV meets an average of 72% of students demonstrated financial need, while graduates leave with a median student debt of $12,950.
The publication also highlighted UTRGV Tuition Advantage, which covers tuition and mandatory fees for eligible students with family incomes of $125,000 or less who have unmet financial need.
Published in June, Money’s 2026 Best Colleges list evaluates institutions using 25 measures, including graduation rates, outcomes for Pell Grant recipients, access to faculty, the amount families pay after financial aid, student debt and alumni earnings.
The findings draw on data from the U.S. Department of Education and Peterson’s, along with Money/Witlytic calculations. Estimated 2026–27 prices are based on the latest available federal data and adjusted for inflation.
To view UTRGV’s complete profile, visit Money.com.
UTRGV – THE FUTURE OF TEXAS
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is shaping The Future of Texas by delivering a high-quality, affordable university experience centered on student success, academic excellence, research, healthcare and community impact. With tuition among the lowest in Texas, UTRGV gives its 35,000 students the opportunities of a major university, including Division I athletics and a new football program, while delivering exceptional value for Texas families. The only university in Texas with schools of Medicine, Podiatric Medicine and Optometry, UTRGV serves South Texas across nine communities while driving innovation and developing the talent that will move Texas forward.