Wednesday, February 25, 2026
DENTON (UNT), Texas — The University of North Texas earned the distinction of being the fifth-highest ranked university in Texas in TIME magazine’s latest global rankings of the world’s top 500 universities. UNT comes in behind Rice University, UT Austin, Texas A&M and the University of Houston.
“This ranking underscores UNT’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and access to transformative learning experiences,” said UNT President Harrison Keller, Ph.D. "As the largest university in the fastest growing economic region in Texas, UNT is just getting started on our bold vision to develop, discover, and drive opportunity.”
TIME evaluates universities based on three key areas: academic capacity and performance, innovation and economic impact, and global engagement. UNT’s strong standing reflects its research productivity, quality of teaching, contributions to innovation and growing international presence. Overall, UNT placed 249th globally. This is actually the first year TIME Magazine has published its own 'World's Top Universities' ranking.
The University of North Texas Denton campus
The university’s performance in these areas is supported by its recognition as an R1 research university, one of only 187 in the nation recognized for very high research activity by the Carnegie Classification.
In addition to the TIME ranking, UNT has earned other national recognition:
- Named an America’s Top College by Forbes for 18 consecutive years
- Ranked 2nd in Texas and 34th in the nation for Top Performers on Social Mobility by S. News & World Report
The recognition affirms UNT’s status as a higher education leader in Texas, providing students with opportunities to learn, innovate and contribute in ways that have both local and global significance.
“This ranking is not only a testament to the dedication and caliber of our faculty, staff, and students but also to the university’s commitment to create enduring value for the public good,” Keller said. “UNT will continue to be a powerful engine of opportunity for our region, our state, our nation, and our world.”
From UNT News – Featured News