With the largest leap among schools in the Big 12 Conference, Texas Tech ranks among the top public schools within the state.

Texas Tech University improved in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) Best Colleges rankings released Tuesday (Sept. 23), seeing the largest leap in rankings among schools within the Big 12 Conference. 

Texas Tech’s latest ranking of No. 198 overall is an increase of 16 spots from 2024, while the No. 109 mark among public universities in the U.S. is an increase of seven places from a year ago. 

The U.S. News & World Report rankings weren’t the only ones where Texas Tech has recently made gains. 

In the 2026 Forbes America’s Top Colleges rankings, Texas Tech again made a significant jump, up 44 spots from a year ago to No. 161. Forbes rates the top 500 universities in the U.S. 

Texas Tech also was ranked No. 69 of 216 among public universities. 

Also released were the Niche rankings, which are based on student-submitted surveys and factual data. Texas Tech continued a string of five straight years of improved rankings, jumping to No. 113 out of 1,517 universities and No. 44 out of 352 public universities. Texas Tech also ranked third among 29 state public universities. 

“These rankings reflect the momentum we continue to build as an institution,” said Lawrence Schovanec, Texas Tech president. “While we take pride in the recognition, what matters most is that it demonstrates the value of a Texas Tech degree and the opportunities it creates for our graduates.”