When will Texas A&M’s long streak of success and high marks for its programs end? There’s no end in sight for the University, who topped many of the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings released Tuesday.
The University’s online programs for professional and graduate students are among the best in the nation, according to the rankings report. These include programs in business, education, engineering, and nursing, which all placed in the Top 20. They lead the entire nation, state, and Southeastern Conference towards a better future.
Mays Business School’s master’s in business program for veterans returned to the No. 1 ranking this year, its second year in a row of excellence. The College of Engineering’s industrial engineering program rose eight spots to No. 2 nationwide, while its master’s in information technology program for veterans ranked at No. 2. The College of Education programs soared, breaking the top ten in three categories.
The annual rankings assess and evaluate several factors that lead to the best online programs in the country. Criteria for ranking includes engagement, graduation rates, faculty credentials and training, support services and technologies, and peer assessment, among other criteria.
Texas A&M has a total of 14 online graduate programs ranked No. 1 in the state.
When it comes to top Colleges within Texas A&M, The College of Engineering led the charge at eight programs in the publication’s Top 20. The College of Education and Human Development had four Top 20 mentions, while Mays Business School had two programs on the list within the Top 10. The College of Nursing entered the list at No. 11 nationally and led the state for its bachelor’s degree program.
Four of Texas A&M’s programs for veterans made this year’s list: Mays Business School at No. 1, the College of Education and Human Development at No. 3, and the College of Engineering at No. 2 and 7.
Many programs saw improvement from last year: two programs in particular made the list for the first time. The master’s in information technology and master’s in information technology for veterans appeared on the list at No. 3 and No. 2 respectively.
Texas A&M’s Best Online Programs Rankings 2026:
Top 10 Programs
- Master’s in Business Programs for Veterans (non-MBA): No. 1
- Master’s in Business (non-MBA): No. 3 (No. 1 public, No. 1 in Texas, No. 1 in the SEC)
College of Education and Human Development
- Master’s in Education for Veterans: No. 3 (No. 1 in Texas, No. 1 in the SEC)
- Master’s in Education: No. 8 (up 1 spot)
- Master’s in Educational Administration and Supervision: No. 9 (No. 1 in Texas)
- Master’s in Industrial Engineering: No. 2 (up 8 spots) (No. 1 in Texas, No. 1 in the SEC)
- Master’s in Information Technology for Veterans: No. 2 (No. 1 public, No. 1 in Texas, No. 1 in the SEC)
- Master’s in Information Technology: No. 3 (No. 1 public, No. 1 in SEC)
- Master’s in Mechanical Engineering: No. 6 (No. 1 in Texas, No. 1 in the SEC)
- Master’s in Engineering for Veterans: No. 7 (No. 1 in Texas, No. 1 in the SEC)
- Master’s in Electrical Engineering: No. 8 (No. 1 in Texas, No. 1 in the SEC)
- Master’s in Engineering: No. 9 (No. 1 in Texas, No. 1 in the SEC)
Top 20 Programs
- Overall Bachelor’s: No. 11 (No. 1 in Texas)
- Master’s in Engineering Management: No. 15 (No. 1 in Texas)
College of Education and Human Development
- Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction: No. 15 (No. 1 in Texas)
Dr. Alan Sams, provost and executive vice president at Texas A&M, noted the rankings reflect the university’s commitment to providing high-quality programs for students worldwide.
“Whether it’s supporting veterans, advancing engineering, or providing excellence in business and education, Texas A&M’s commitment to student success continues to set us apart nationally,” Sams said. “We are continually investing in outstanding faculty, technology and support services to ensure our online students receive the same world-class education and sense of community as those on campus. These recognitions affirm our efforts to meet the needs of learners everywhere.”
The rankings are just one of several recognitions for Texas A&M. Last month, the university was named by Fast Company Magazine as a Brand That Matters, the only university on the list alongside brands such as Coca-Cola, Netflix, McDonald’s and Nike. Texas A&M is also ranked by the Wall Street Journal as the best public university in Texas and the No. 11 public institution in the U.S.
