LinkedIn Ranks Rice, SMU, and UT Austin Among top Schools for Career Success
HOUSTON, TX – LinkedIn has released its annual ranking of the 50 best universities for career preparation, with three Texas institutions making the list: Rice University, Southern Methodist University (SMU), and The University of Texas at Austin. The ranking, published this week, focuses on long-term career outcomes for alumni, especially in a competitive job market.
“The schools that make this list are those that consistently deliver graduates who are accomplished over the course of their careers,” LinkedIn News Editor George Anders told Fortune. “For this list, that means looking at how well a school sets alumni up for the long haul.”
Princeton University topped the LinkedIn list, followed by Duke University and the University of Pennsylvania.
Here’s a look at the Texas schools included in the ranking:
Rice University boasts a tuition of $66,540 and an undergraduate enrollment of 4,800 students. Graduates find success in technology, business consulting, and higher education, with top destinations including Houston, the San Francisco Bay area, and New York City. Notable skills among rice alumni include MATLAB programming language, engineering design, and data science.
Southern Methodist University has a tuition of $61,880 and an undergraduate enrollment of 7,285. SMU graduates are heavily recruited into financial services and business consulting, landing in cities like dallas, New York City, and Los Angeles. Key skills for SMU alumni include AMPL programming language, Avid iNews content creation system, and data science.
The University of texas at Austin offers considerably lower tuition for in-state students at $10,858 (compared to $42,554 for out-of-state students) and has a large undergraduate enrollment of 42,445. UT Austin graduates pursue careers in technology, medical practices, and advertising, primarily in Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Notable skills include SOLIDWORKS computer-aided design software, architecture, and Avid media Composer video editing software.
While no San Antonio schools appeared on the linkedin list, local universities have recently received recognition from othre ranking publications. Trinity University and Texas State University were highlighted by The Princeton Review’s “The best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition” in mid-August. Later that month, Trinity and the University of Texas at San Antonio earned high marks on Forbes’ annual list of America’s Top Colleges.