2 MD Colleges Among 50 Best In Country, U.S. News Says In New Ranking

Two Maryland colleges were ranked among the top 50 in the country, according to the new 2026 Best Colleges rankings released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.

The rankings evaluated 1,700 colleges and universities using more than a dozen measures of academic quality, U.S. News said in a news release.

This year in its rankings, U.S. News prioritized social mobility — that is, its record in enrolling and graduating students from all backgrounds with manageable debt — and post-graduate success, including earnings.

Here’s how Maryland schools fared in national rankings:

• No. 7 (Tied) Johns Hopkins University
• No. 42 (Tied) University of Maryland, College Park
• No. 127 (Tied) University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• No. 329 (Tied) Morgan State University
• No. 384 (Tied) Capitol Technology University
• No. 395 to No. 434 University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Included in this year's report are specialized rankings such as the best value schools, most innovative colleges, top performers on social mobility and historically Black colleges and universities, as well as universities with the greatest commitment to undergraduate teaching.

Other specialty rankings include programs that enhance student experiences, including first-year experiences, service learning, studying abroad and undergraduate research and creative projects.

The U.S. Naval Academy was ranked the nation's third-best liberal arts college, and fellow Annapolis school St. John's College came in tied at No. 84 in that category.

Hopkins had the nation's 12th-best value, followed by UMBC at No. 84 and UMD College Park at No. 163.

Morgan State was rated the country's ninth-best HBCU. Bowie State University was tied for the 11th-best, while UMES was tied at No. 22 and Coppin State University was tied for No. 29.

The top national universities are:

1. Princeton University (New Jersey)
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
3. Harvard University (Massachusetts)
4 (tie). Stanford University (California)
4 (tie). Yale University (Connecticut)
6. University of Chicago (Illinois)
7 (tie). Duke University (North Carolina)
7 (tie). Johns Hopkins University (Maryland)
7 (tie). Northwestern University (Illinois)
7 (tie). University of Pennsylvania

LaMont Jones, managing editor for Education at U.S. News, said in a press release that for more than four decades, the publication’s rankings have served as a trusted, data-backed resource for students and their families as they navigate the complex college search process.

“Over the years, Best Colleges has evolved into a comprehensive tool that reflects the changing landscape of higher education, providing prospective students with a crucial starting point to identify schools that align with their academic and personal goals,” Jones said.

Read more about the methodology on U.S. News & World Report.

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