Four top tier universities in Dallas-Fort Worth were just inducted into a new "hall of fame" list of the best colleges in the U.S. for 2026.

Southern Methodist University, University of Dallas, University of Texas at Dallas, and Fort Worth's Texas Christian University were all praised in education services company The Princeton Review's "The Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition."

Released August 12, the comprehensive guide annually ranks the best universities across 50 categories based on a survey of 170,000 current college students. Survey questions covered topics such as a school's academics and administration, student quality of life, politics, campus life, city/town life, extracurricular opportunities, and social environment.

The Princeton Review did not numerically rank the schools overall, but it does report the top 25 schools (out of the total 391) for each of the 50 different categories. The report also clarifies that while schools did not pay to be included in the guide, they could pay for a "featured" designation. Of the four DFW schools included in the list, the only one that paid to be "featured" was The University of Texas at Dallas.

Southern Methodist University appeared in the overall 391 best colleges list, and it also appeared in the regional "Best Southwest" list. According to the school's profile, SMU students feel like their coursework provides challenges similar to what they would face "in the real world" and professors go above and beyond to help them succeed.

"Thanks to the 'strong traditions' and 'top academics' of Southern Methodist University, graduates-especially those from the 'phenomenal business school'-are well-prepared to make a positive impact on the world," the profile says. "Students praise the academic process, which is filled with 'fun and interesting courses,' and which places students in 'a close-knit community of the intellectually elite.'"

SMU has recently earned praise in a separate 2026 ranking of the best universities in the world, and it scored highly in U.S. News and World Report's lists of the best colleges and top grad schools in 2025.

SMU rival Texas Christian University in Fort Worth earned high marks for having the No. 1 happiest students and highest popularity for intramural sports. The university can also brag about having the second-best quality of life, the fourth most beautiful campus in the U.S., the fifth-best athletic facilities, the sixth-best college dorms, the ninth-best health services, and the 10th best college library. Clearly, there's a lot to like about being a Horned Frog.

"In further accordance with the school's liberal arts ideals, students also cite the thoughtful discussions in their courses: 'Our small class sizes are one of our greatest strengths,'" the school's profile says. "Students speak glowingly of their professors, praising their excellent teaching but also describing strong feelings of camaraderie, especially in the way they feel 'they all will know your name and really get to know you.'"

Here's how the two other DFW schools ranked in Princeton Review's lists:

The University of Texas at Dallas

• Best Value Colleges (unranked)
• Best in the Southwest (unranked)
• Green Colleges (unranked)
• The Best 391 Colleges (unranked)
• No. 2 – Top Southwest Undergraduate Programs for Video Game Design
• No. 3 – Top 20 Best Public Schools for Internships
• No. 4 – Top Southwest Schools for Entrepreneurship Studies
• No. 25 – Best Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Programs
• No. 37 – Top College Programs for Video Game Design
• No. 40 – Top 50 Best Value Public Colleges

University of Dallas

• Best Value Colleges
• Best in the Southwest
• The Best 391 Colleges
• No. 7 – Most Politically Conservative Students
• No. 7 – LGBTQ-Unfriendly (this list measured "how strongly students disagree that their fellow students treat all persons equally, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity/expression")
• No. 8 – Most Religious Students
• No. 10 – Happiest Students
• No. 10 – Professors Get High Marks
• No. 17 – Best College Newspaper
• No. 20 – Pot's Not Hot (this list ranked colleges with the "least marijuana usage based on ratings from real students about the popularity of marijuana on campus")