RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas – 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 educational quality, affordability and student outcomes.
Money evaluated more than 2,400 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges. UTRGV was among 735 institutions that met the publication’s inclusion requirements, and about 10% of those institutions received a 4.5-star rating or higher.
For the 2026-27 academic year, Money estimates UTRGV’s full in-state cost of attendance at $26,260. After average financial aid, the estimated price is $5,570, the lowest among Texas institutions included in the list. For students from low-income households, the estimated average price is $3,785.
UTRGV said 93% of its undergraduates receive grants and 98% receive need-based grants. The university meets an average of 72% of students’ demonstrated financial need, while graduates leave with median student debt of $12,950, according to the release.
Money’s rating system uses 25 measures, including graduation rates, outcomes for Pell Grant recipients, access to faculty, net cost after aid, student debt and alumni earnings.
Source: UTRGV Newsroom
