SAN ANTONIO, TX – Texas A&M University-San Antonio has been recognized among the South’s top colleges for delivering an affordable education and strong student outcomes in Washington Monthly’s 2026 college rankings.
A&M-San Antonio ranked No. 39 overall in the 2026 Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollar in the South, placing the University among the region’s top 50 institutions. The University also saw significant gains in key measures important to Bexar County and South Texas, rising from No. 48 to No. 25 in affordability and from No. 26 to No. 16 in student outcomes compared with its 2025 rankings among master's universities.
“I am incredibly proud of the work our University does to support students. Not only do these rankings recognize our commitment to ensuring students receive access to an affordable, high-quality education, but we also prepare them to flourish in their careers,” said University President Salvador Hector Ochoa. “As we continue to grow in academics and research, we remain focused on access and developing the talented workforce we need in our region.”
Washington Monthly’s affordability ranking considers what students from families earning less than $75,000 pay after financial aid, as well as the amount of debt students carry after graduation. At A&M-San Antonio, approximately 60% of undergraduate students are Pell Grant eligible. The University’s last-dollar scholarship program, Jaguar Promise, also supports eligible high school and transfer students, including those who graduated in the top 35% of their class or have earned an associate’s degree, and have a family income of $70,000 or less.
The outcomes measure considers indicators of academic and economic mobility, including eight-year graduation rates, differences in graduation rates between students from different income levels and graduates’ early-career earnings. The measure also considers the number of graduates who later earn doctoral degrees.
A&M-San Antonio anticipates these rankings will continue to rise, as it recently began its first doctoral program, a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership. In fall 2027, the University also plans to launch a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences, creating another pathway for students interested in health, science, research and related careers.
The Washington Monthly recognition highlights the University’s growth as it expands access to higher education, building a brighter future for students and their families.