Rice University again ranked top university in Texas

Details: Rice University tied for No. 15 overall, up from No. 17 last year. The university also ranked No. 6 on the list of the nation's best values in higher education.

• The University of Houston came in at No. 182, dropping three spots from last year.
• The University of Texas at Austin ranked No. 38 nationally and is tied for No. 10 among best national public universities.
• Texas A&M ranked No. 67 nationally and No. 26 in top public schools.
• Prairie View A&M tied for No. 26 for best Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
• Texas Southern University ranked No. 49 for best Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Between the lines: U.S. News is one of the most influential college rankings and has shaped the hierarchy of higher education since 1983.

The other side: Last month, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said college rankings are "a joke."

• "Many institutions spend enormous time and money chasing rankings they feel carry prestige but in truth do little more than Xerox privilege,” Cardona said.