WT Rises in U.S. News & World Report Rankings of Best Schools in West

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University saw a significant improvement in its standing among other schools in the West, according to newly released rankings from U.S. News & World Report.

WT ranked at No. 5 among Best Value Schools among schools in the West, up from No. 20 in 2022-2023. The University rose to No. 47 in the magazine’s Regional Universities (West) list, up from No. 56 the previous year. WT also placed No. 24, up three spots, in the list of Top Public Universities in the West.

WT also placed No. 25 for Best Colleges for Veterans, and the University earned rankings in Top Performers on Social Mobility, Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs and Best Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program.

“Accolades from U.S. News & World Report provide strong affirmation that West Texas A&M University is setting a very high bar for academic excellence when compared with the best institutions in the country,” said Dr. Neil Terry, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “The recognition is possible because of the WT faculty and staff's dedication to student success.”

“West Texas A&M University is committed to redefining excellence in higher education,” WT President Walter V. Wendler said. “Recognition from agencies like U.S. News that track academic excellence across all institutions is further evidence for students and families that WT is a superior choice for their higher education dreams and goals. We want to attract students who are not afraid of excellence.”

U.S. News’ Best Colleges rankings provide data-driven information and guidance to help prospective students and their families understand their higher education options.

U.S. News' directory of institutions contains each school's rankings data and key characteristics about majors, campus life, costs of attending, and more. Users can filter schools by selected academic and non-academic characteristics along their priorities.

Using a wide range of data sources, U.S. News analysts and editors calculated more than 80 Best Colleges rankings, all with the intent of enabling students and their families to identify colleges that best meet their needs. The rankings highlight colleges that excel in such areas as value, social mobility, teaching, veterans’ needs, HBCUs and in six academic disciplines (Business, Computer Science, Engineering, Nursing, Economics and Psychology).

Earlier this year, U.S. News ranked WT’s online bachelor’s program at No. 45 in the nation and No. 3 in Texas, and 11 total programs earned the magazine’s coveted Best Program status: online bachelor’s programs, online bachelor’s programs for veterans, online undergraduate business programs, online MBA, online MBA for veterans, and graduate programs in computer information technology, criminal justice and public administration, education, engineering, business (non-MBA) and nursing.

WT’s commitment to being a learner-centered university is a key component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised nearly $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 58 undergraduate degree programs, one associate degree, and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

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