San Antonio – September 22, 2026 -- Texas A&M University-San Antonio advanced nine spots to No. 31 in the U.S. News & World Report Top Performers on Social Mobility category, its largest single-year gain in the ranking.
University moves up in three separate U.S. News categories
A&M-San Antonio also rose one spot to No. 28 among Top Public Schools and held its position at No. 56 among Regional Universities West, a category spanning 14 states including Texas, Washington, Nevada and California.
Sixty percent of students qualify for Pell Grants
Approximately 60% of A&M-San Antonio students are Pell Grant-eligible. The University's Jaguar Promise program covers tuition and fees for eligible Texas students from families earning $70,000 or less annually.
Graduates gain $427 million in lifetime earnings
University data show Jaguars receive a cumulative value of $427 million in increased earnings over their working lives as a result of their degrees.
President ties rankings to student-centered mission
President Salvador Hector Ochoa said the rankings reflect the University's focus on creating pathways to a college degree and greater opportunity for students in Texas.
Research funding more than doubles to $8 million
A&M-San Antonio's research grants grew to approximately $8 million in fiscal year 2026, up from $3.6 million the prior year, as the institution pursues R2 research status. The University also launched a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and plans a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences for Fall 2027. Separately, Research.com ranked the University's computer science degree program as the most valuable in San Antonio.