Texas Tech has strengthened its standing among leading research institutions, posting gains in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities rankings while earning recognition for agricultural sciences and plant and animal science.
'Davis College has always put our students first, and our rising rankings show that outstanding students, programs, and faculty and staff can achieve prime status while maintaining a strong focus on outstanding educational outcomes.'
Among U.S. universities, Texas Tech ranked No. 33 in agricultural sciences and No. 41 in plant and animal science, reinforcing the university's Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources as a leading destination for agricultural research and education.
“Davis College has always put our students first, and our rising rankings show that outstanding students, programs, and faculty and staff can achieve prime status while maintaining a strong focus on outstanding educational outcomes in agricultural and natural resources sciences,” said Robert Cox, Davis College Associate Dean for Academic & Student Programs.
Texas Tech, as a whole, ranked among the top universities in Texas and the Big 12 Conference, earning a higher placement than peer institutions including Kansas State University, Oklahoma State University, Texas Christian University, the University of Alabama, the University of Arkansas, the University of North Texas and Southern Methodist University.
The annual rankings, widely viewed as one of higher education's premier global assessments, evaluate universities on research performance and international academic reputation. For the 2026-27 edition, U.S. News & World Report partnered with Clarivate, a leading global provider of research intelligence and analytics, to assess institutions worldwide before narrowing the field to the top 2,250 universities eligible for ranking.
"Texas Tech's rise in these rankings reflects the outstanding work of our faculty, staff and students as well as the impact of our teaching and research enterprise," said President Lawrence Schovanec in an online statement. Overall, Texas Tech climbed to No. 562 among universities worldwide and No. 123 nationally, continuing an upward trajectory.
For Davis College, the recognition highlights decades of investment in agricultural innovation spanning crop improvement, soil science, animal systems, water conservation and sustainable food production. Faculty within the college continue to address some of agriculture's most pressing challenges, including drought resilience, precision agriculture, natural resource management and global food security.
The college is also expanding its research, instructional and administrative footprint. Construction of a new flagship Davis College building is scheduled to begin in fall 2026. The approximately 145,000-square-foot, $100 million-plus facility will replace both the current Wildlife & Fisheries building and the CASNR Annex. Demolition and site preparation began in June with the new agricultural academic hub tentatively scheduled to open in fall 2028.
CONTACT: Clint Krehbiel, Dean, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or Clint.Krehbiel@ttu.edu
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