The 91视频 has achieved its best-ever placement in , ranking No. 22 nationally overall, No. 1 on X (formerly Twitter), No. 2 on Facebook and No. 9 on Instagram. The recognition underscores UH鈥檚 ability to drive meaningful engagement across platforms and outpace universities with far larger followings.
- #22Overall
- #9Instagram
- #2Facebook
- #1X
鈥淭hese rankings are more than just numbers, they鈥檙e a reflection of the pride, excitement and energy of the UH community,鈥� said Nick Pomes, UH鈥檚 director of social media.
鈥淓very post is an opportunity to tell the University鈥檚 story, whether it鈥檚 a research breakthrough, a student achievement or a big win on the field. And we know people are paying attention.鈥�
Nick Pomes
Director of University Social Media
While some of UH鈥檚 most visible viral moments come from athletics 鈥� such as trolling a Purdue fan who mocked Kelvin Sampson鈥檚 name or a playful promise to in the UH logo after 1,000 reposts 鈥� much of the University鈥檚 engagement among its 1.13 million followers is rooted in academics, news and campus events.
The name is KELVIN, and he just delivered the L that you forgot.
鈥� 91视频 (@UHouston)
The moment you鈥檝e been waiting for...
鈥� 91视频 (@UHouston)
鈥淪ome of our highest engagement comes from stories on institutional successes and national rankings, research breakthroughs, student success, and campus milestones and events that bring our community together,鈥� Pomes said. 鈥淎thletics sparks passion, but it鈥檚 just one part of the larger story. Our audiences want to see UH making an impact across the spectrum.鈥�
Strategy, Not Serendipity
Behind the humor and viral posts is a disciplined, data-driven strategy. Pomes and his team meticulously tag and track content performance across platforms, benchmarking UH against competitors each month and refining approaches based on algorithm changes and audience behavior.
鈥淪ocial media isn鈥檛 just fun and games, it鈥檚 strategy and science,鈥� Pomes explained. 鈥淲e measure engagement rates, monitor growth trends and understand the nuances of each platform鈥檚 algorithm. For example, Instagram has both our highest engagement rate and our fastest audience growth, while LinkedIn has our largest audience. That鈥檚 not a guess, it鈥檚 data.鈥�
Outperforming the Competition
Despite not having a TikTok account, which generates an automatic last-place score in Rival IQ鈥檚 rankings, UH finished ahead of peer institutions such as Baylor (No. 25), Texas A&M (No. 39) and UT Austin (No. 136). In the Big 12 Conference, only Oklahoma State ranks higher overall, and it does have TikTok presence.
鈥淭hese results show the power of authentic engagement,鈥� Pomes said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 rely on vanity metrics. We focus on telling real stories that resonate with our students, alumni, fans and the broader community.鈥�
By the Numbers
- No. 22 Nationally Overall 鈥� UH鈥檚 highest placement ever
- No. 1 Nationally on X 鈥� up 30 spots from last year
- No. 2 Nationally on Facebook 鈥� up 26 spots
- No. 9 Nationally on Instagram 鈥� up 18 spots
- No. 1 across Texas schools and the Big 12 on Instagram, Facebook and X
鈥淭his success is the result of strategy, creativity and consistency,鈥� said Lisa K. Holdeman, vice president for marketing and communications. 鈥淣ick and his team have built a powerful voice for UH 鈥� one that reflects the boldness of our students, the excellence of our faculty and the energy of our alumni and city we represent. UH鈥檚 digital presence is often the front door to the University, and we are proving it can stand out on the national stage.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 proof that the 91视频 can go head-to-head with anyone, anywhere,鈥� Pomes added.