Unified UT San Antonio Surges in National Blue Ridge Rankings Following Landmark Institutional Merger

UT San Antonio ranks No. 64 nationally for NIH funding, with the School of Dentistry reaching the top 10 following a year of transformative institutional growth.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 10, 2026, 11:57 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center

A Landmark Debut for a Unified Academic Powerhouse

In a transformative year for Texas higher education, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) has debuted in the national Blue Ridge rankings as a single, consolidated institution. This unified status has immediately translated into increased national competitiveness, with the university rising five spots to secure the 64th position among more than 2,700 U.S. institutions receiving National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. With a total of $147,098,904 in federal grants, the ranking places UT San Antonio in the top 2.3 percent of research institutions in the country.

Dental Research Excellence Hits the National Top Ten

The most significant departmental advancement for the university occurred within the School of Dentistry, which climbed five positions to be ranked No. 9 in the nation. Bolstered by $9,770,084 in NIH funding, the school now sits among the elite dental programs in the United States. Dean Kenneth M. Hargreaves, DDS, PhD, noted that this achievement reflects a deep commitment to innovative oral health research that directly improves the quality of life for the South Texas community and beyond.

Medical School Growth Drives Regional Biomedical Discovery

The Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine continues to serve as a primary engine for the university’s research enterprise, ranking No. 50 nationally with $124,440,804 in NIH support. Within the school, internal medicine led the way with $25.4 million in funding, followed closely by microbiology and biochemistry. Robert A. Hromas, MD, the dean of the Long School of Medicine, attributed this success to strategic investments in faculty and programs that are currently accelerating breakthroughs in cancer, neuroscience, and infectious diseases.