The University of Houston is once again ranked among the nation’s top 75 public universities in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Top Public School rankings, landing at No. 74. Despite a slight shift from last year’s rank of No. 70, UH has continued to make significant strides in key student success metrics, which remain central to the University’s mission of improving educational outcomes.
“We are pleased to remain in the top 75 public universities, especially in such a competitive field,” said UH President Renu Khator. “While rankings fluctuate, what matters most is our continued focus on student success and the steady progress we are making in that area.”
These 2025 rankings come as UH improved in its six-year graduation rate, now at 65%, marking a 14 percentage point increase since 2015. The University’s one-year retention rate also saw gains, further strengthening its focus on student success. UH continues to shine in social mobility, ranking No. 36 among all national universities — both public and private — a testament to the University’s commitment to creating opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds. U.S. News removed metrics related to the success of first-generation students in the latest ranking methodology, which resulted in UH losing points compared to last year.
The U.S. News rankings, which measure various academic and student performance metrics, place UH in a highly competitive landscape where only five points separate UH from the top 50 public universities. The University anticipates that as graduation rates continue to rise, particularly the goal of reaching a 70% graduation rate, it will experience more substantial movement in the rankings in the coming years.
In addition to the U.S. News & World Report rankings, UH continues to perform well across other academic disciplines, including:
National Universities: #144
Top Public Schools - National Universities: #74
Social Mobility - National Universities: #36
Best Undergraduate Business: #65
Best Undergraduate Engineering (Doctorate): #79
Best Undergraduate Nursing: #96
“As we continue our progress toward becoming a top 50 public university, our vision remains clear, and our commitment to student success unwavering. We expect to see even greater gains as we build on the foundation we have set,” Khator said. “Our community, students and supporters can rest assured that we will continue to strive for excellence in every area that matters most.”
Earlier this year, UH cracked the top 50 in the Forbes rankings, climbing 22 spots. Every ranking has its own methodology and scoring system, highlighting different aspects of institutional success.