Ashland University earns U.S. News “2027 Best College” recognition, 7 category rankings

ASHLAND, Ohio – Ashland University has been recognized among U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” once again, ranking among the top 30 percent of Midwest regional universities and earning recognition in seven areas overall in the 2027 rankings released Tuesday.

Ashland ranked No. 49 among 171 institutions in the Regional Universities (Midwest) category, placing it among the top 30 percent of schools in the group for the fourth consecutive year. U.S. News classifies regional universities as those offering “a broad scope of undergraduate and some master’s degrees, but few research-oriented doctoral programs.” Ashland also ranked ninth among 24 Ohio institutions in the category.

Ashland performed well in four specialized Midwest Region rankings:

• No. 21, “Best Colleges for Veterans”
• No. 39, “Top Private Colleges”
• No. 48, “Best Value Schools”
• No. 64, “Top Performers on Social Mobility”

U.S. News also recognized Ashland’s undergraduate nursing and business programs, based on assessments from academic leaders in those fields. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in the Dwight Schar College of Nursing and Health Sciences received national recognition, along with Ashland’s undergraduate business program in the Dauch College of Business and Economics.

“We are honored to be recognized by U.S. News as a ‘Best College.’ This honor reflects the work of our faculty and staff in providing students with a high-quality education and an experience that prepares them for transformative careers,” stated AU President Dr. Jon Parrish Peede. “Earning recognition across seven areas speaks to the breadth of our academic programs and our commitment to serving a range of students and helping each one succeed.”

U.S. News has published the Best Colleges rankings each year since 1983 to provide prospective students and their families with the comparative merits of the undergraduate programs at America’s colleges and universities.

Rankings, which offer detailed information of the institutions, are determined by 17 measures of academic quality and graduate success, such as peer assessment, graduation rates, graduation rate performance, faculty salaries, financial resources, first-year retention rate and standardized tests. The rankings emphasize student outcomes, academic resources and expert opinion.

“Higher education is an investment in a student’s future, and we’re proud to recognize the institutions that continue to raise the bar for academic excellence,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News. “The Best Colleges rankings celebrate schools that demonstrate outstanding commitment to student success, providing prospective families with a roadmap to discover high-performing institutions that align with their specific academic, career and personal goals.”