TAMIU Highest-Ranked Public University in Washington Monthly College Guide’s Best Bang for the Buck Ranking of Southern Colleges

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) has once again been recognized as one of the nation's Top Ten-ranked Southern Colleges in Washington Monthly Magazine's 2023 College Guide "Best Bang for the Buck" ranking. 

TAMIU was the highest-ranked public/state University, # 3, among colleges and universities ranked in the South.   TAMIU also earned a # 2 ranking for low net price cost.

This is TAMIU’s highest position in the Top Ten ranking to date. It was ranked # 4 in the Guide’s 2022 edition.  For the 2023 edition, TAMIU outranked all other Texas A&M University System campuses, and University of Texas campuses, including UT-Rio Grande Valley (# 5), UT-El Paso (# 24), UT-San Antonio, (#27), and Texas State University (#47).  Some 228 institutions were ranked.

TAMIU was also ranked in Washington Monthly’s 2023 Master’s University rankings. TAMIU earned a ranking of #19 nationally of 604 institutions offering graduate degrees. That’s a 13-point jump from last year’s #32 ranking.

TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz said he is impressed by the rankings and what they say about the University.

“I am truly pleased with these rankings which I believe affirm elements of the TAMIU experience that certainly distinguish our University, our faculty, and how we benefit our students.  I also find it refreshing that experiences, like those focused on public service and research, are also valued by Washington Monthlyeditors,” Dr. Arenaz said.

“These are fundamental distinctions here at TAMIU. For example, in this first week of Fall semester classes, our students are partnering with community service organizations for mutually beneficial service opportunities through our Partnership TAMIU: An Alliance for Good program. Our social mobility, another key strength also nationally recognized last week by Third Way, has figured prominently in this ranking.  TAMIU works aggressively to be accessible, affordable, and exceptional, and these rankings affirm this,” he continued.

Washington Monthly’s methodology looked at 1,586 colleges in the 50 states in the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data having a 2021 Carnegie basic classification of doctoral, master’s, and baccalaureate colleges, that were not exclusively graduate colleges, that participate in federal financial aid programs and had not announced an impending closure as of June 1, 2023.

Further distinguishing the Washington Monthly rankings are its use of three equally weighted portions: community and national service, research, and social mobility. Institutions that are top-ranked must be excellent across the full breadth of the measures, rather than just one measure.  The social mobility portion also figures prominently in how the magazine selects its Best Bang for the Buck institutions, which spans five regions but routinely sees regional public and private colleges and universities surpass efforts by larger and wealthier institutions.

Arenaz observed that by using these measures, TAMIU leads national performers.

“If you look at Vanderbilt University of Tennessee—a perennial national top performer in U.S. News & World Report’s college guide—you’ll find it ranking # 11 in the South by Washington Monthly, trailing TAMIU, ranked # 3.  As we begin our Fall semester students, parents, and graduates will appreciate the added value this ranking brings to the TAMIU experience,” he said.

The Washington Monthly ranking is available online at https://washingtonmonthly.com/2023-college-guide/best-bang-for-the-buck-rankings-south/

Regarding the College Guide, writer Rob Wolfe succinctly explained the Washington Monthly approach to ranking.

 “America needs a new definition of higher education excellence, one that measures what colleges do for their country, instead of for themselves,” Wolfe writes.

Late Registration for Fall 2023 at TAMIU ends Friday, Sept. 1.

More University news and information can  be found online at tamiu.edu and on TAMIU’s social channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.