The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) School of Health Professions (SHP) has earned national recognition in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings, with two of its graduate programs recognized nationally.
The Occupational Therapy program ranked No. 41, and the Physical Therapy program ranked No. 57.
“We are incredibly proud of the national recognition our Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy programs have earned in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings,” said Dr. David Vines, senior vice president and dean of the School of Health Professions. “These distinctions reflect the dedication of our outstanding faculty, the excellence of our students, the amazing accomplishments of our graduates, and the commitment of our preceptors to preparing the next generation of health care professionals. This recognition affirms UTMB’s position as a leader in health professions education and strengthens our mission to improve health for the people of Texas and beyond.”
The U.S. News Best Graduate Schools rankings are designed to help prospective students research and compare more than 2,000 graduate programs. The rankings are based on expert opinion about program excellence, along with statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s faculty, research and students, as well as postgraduate outcomes.
Data for the rankings come from statistical surveys of 2,225 programs, as well as reputation surveys sent to approximately 5,766 academics and 10,941 professionals. To gather peer assessment data, U.S. News asked deans, program directors and senior faculty to judge the academic quality of programs in their field on a scale of 1 to 5.
U.S. News notes that rankings are intended to serve as a tool to supplement, not replace, careful thought and individual inquiry.
For more information, visit the School of Health Professions’ Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy program pages.