On Aug. 18, 2026, the Princeton Review ranked the University of Dallas #15 for best professors. The Review is based on student surveys and is released annually.
Every year, the Princeton Review releases a book of the best 392 colleges based on data gathered from their student surveys. According to their website, their rankings are “based on the data from our surveys of 172,000 students at the 392 schools in the book.”
The Review’s rankings are divided into 50 categories, reporting the top 25 schools in each. Categories relate to academics, campus life, extracurricular activity, physical and mental wellbeing and more.
The Review states that “Schools that make it onto any of our 50 top 25 lists are those at which the surveyed students (as a group) indicated a very high consensus of opinion about that topic.” UD’s ranking indicates that students consistently reported approval of their professors.
Surveyed students described their professors as “not only great teachers but great role models,” “more than fair, and are always willing to go above and beyond to help any student who desires it,” and “they do everything in their power to bring to life the content and help each student grow.”
Various students had comments on UD’s ranking as well. Robert Heyne, a sophomore politics major, pointed out that because of UD’s holistic view of the person, professors are given freedom to pursue and teach disciplines they are truly passionate about, and are not restricted to what would be useful in a career. Heyne particularly praised drama professor Stefan Novinski for his confidence, presence and passion for public speaking and drama.
Therese Portilla, a junior biology major, found the ranking plausible, but wondered if any Newman Guide school might have gotten a similar result (in fact, Thomas Aquinas College ranked #11 on the Review’s best professors list). She mentioned Dr. Kathryn Davis as a standout professor. Portilla also stated appreciation for professors who have families and children of their own.
When asked for comment, Constantin Dean and Associate Professor of English Dr. Roper said: “It’s great [that the university was ranked #15], but I’m only disappointed that we were not ranked #1! Where else can you go where professors are first-rate experts in their fields and yet spend so much time with the students? Where STEM students do summer research that is graduate-level work on real, pressing scientific problems? Where book after book comes out on both important scholarly and theological questions, crucial moral issues, and fascinating popular topics? […] Where professors live lives of deep faith and searing questioning of truth? Our students don’t get into medical school better than the Ivies, [earn] Goldwaters and Fulbrights at crazy rates well beyond more well-known schools, and become leaders in their professions without great professors to lead them there!”
The University of Dallas also made it onto several other Princeton Review top 25 lists, including #17 in Happiest Students and #2 in Most Religious Students. The Review quotes one student as saying, “More than anywhere else I’ve been, my peers also have a genuine interest in being faithful people and growing in their spiritual lives.” The surveyed students also praised student life, saying “while students spend substantial time during the week on coursework, they are also quite creative when it comes to relaxing and having fun,” and that “the small student body allows for genuine connections and positive interactions to take place daily.”
UD also appeared in the Review’s unranked Best Value Colleges list, which is calculated based on quality of academics, financial aid and career after graduation. 209 of the 392 schools reviewed appear on this list.