Report card

3 Dallas-Fort Worth universities earn pomp and prestige on new list of top Texas schools

These students look like they're having a pretty good time at SMU.

Back-to-school time is a fine time for new college rankings, and — oh look, here they are.

Neighborhood review site Niche.com has just released this year's college rankings, which rely on U.S. Department of Education data coupled with reviews from current students, alumni, and parents to judge American colleges on 12 factors, including academics, campus, dorm life, and professors.

In results that look strikingly similar to last year's list, three Dallas-Fort Worth universities have made the grade among top 10 Texas schools this year.

Southern Methodist University came in at No. 4, Fort Worth's Texas Christian University ranked No. 6, and University of Texas — Dallas just barely made the cut, at No. 10.

Once again, Houston's Rice University was named the best school in Texas (and seventh best in the United States). The complete top 10 in Texas looks like this:

Rice University
University of Texas — Austin
Texas A&M University
Southern Methodist University
Trinity University
Texas Christian University
Baylor University
LeTourneau University
Texas Tech University
University of Texas — Dallas

SMU earned high marks nationally in some very specific categories, such as Best Christian Colleges in America (No. 5 of 364) but also Top Party Schools in America (No. 22 of 1,612). Complete rankings are here.

TCU earns No. 8 in the Best Christian Colleges in America ranking, and No. 11 for Best College Campuses (out of 1,419). Complete rankings here.

UTD scored highest in the categories of Best Colleges for Information Technology in America (No. 10 of 238) and Best Colleges for Accounting and Finance (No. 41 of 814). Complete rankings here.

Further down the best-in-Texas list, University of North Texas in Denton came in at No. 16, University of Texas at Arlington snagged No. 22, Texas Woman's University in Denton ranked No. 32, Dallas Baptist University landed at No. 33, and Fort Worth's Texas Wesleyan ranked No. 41.

Another list of interest for incoming freshmen is Niche’s ranking of 2022 Colleges with the Best Student Life in Texas. Top-ranked colleges have a positive, fun, and friendly student culture and a vibrant campus community, per Niche. No surprise here, both SMU and TCU made the top-5 list (although Mustangs will argue the placement is rearranged):

University of Texas - Austin
Rice University
Texas A&M University
Texas Christian University
Southern Methodist University

Which are the best universities in the country this year? Here’s Niche.com’s new report card for the country’s 10 best colleges, which features just one in Texas:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
Rice University
Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Dartmouth College

colleges bests rankings lists

Park News

Neighborhood greenspace penciled in for north Dallas

Google

Dallas Fire Station 10 at 18201 Gibbons Dr.

Everyone loves a park and now a new greenspace is coming to North Dallas, next to Dallas Fire Station 10 at 18201 Gibbons Dr., on the northeast corner of the Dallas North Tollway and Frankford Road.

The new greenspace is the latest via a partnership between Dallas and Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit that promotes the benefits of the outdoors, along with Dallas Fire-Rescue. It's part of the Dallas Greening Initiative, which aims to build 15 new parks across Dallas over the next five years.

Design will rely on community engagement via community meetings and a pop-up park activation with Better Block, a nonprofit that empowers communities to reactivate built environments in neighborhoods.

Several element options will be presented, ensuring that the features of the space fit the neighborhood's desires. Elements to choose from will include options for active recreation, such as a playground and flex lawn, or for passive recreation, such as gathering spaces and a trail.

They're labeling the space "a vacant lot" — however, it is already a greenspace, even with some trees. However, Dallas likes its greenspace to be a designated greenspace. A grassy area is not enough.

The project is targeted for completion in 2027.

The Dallas Greening Initiative was launched in 2022 to expand access to nature for residents and provide environmental and health benefits in neighborhoods across Dallas. Affordability is a consideration with budget capped at $750,000 for each greenspace. Ten percent of each site’s budget is allocated for ongoing maintenance, which will be carried out by Dallas Park & Recreation in partnership with local volunteers.

Construction is already underway at Bushmills Neighborhood Green, the first DGI project to move into construction and is expected to be completed in early 2026. The other four confirmed locations for DGI sites are expected to begin in 2026.

parks