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U.S. News ranks The W among South’s best regional universities

Thursday, September 24, 2026
by Tyler Wheat

Mississippi University for Women continues to earn recognition as a top regional university in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges rankings, with the university distinguishing itself in value and social mobility.

Fall campus with banner

The annual Best Colleges ranking placed the university at No. 25 (tied) in Top Public Schools – Regional Universities (South). Additionally, U.S. News placed The W at No. 11 in Best Value Schools – Regional Universities (South) and No. 21 (tied) in Social Mobility – Regional Universities (South).

“This recognition as one of the top public universities in the South reaffirms that The W delivers a high-quality education that is both affordable and transformative,” Interim President Dr. Scott Tollison said. “To be specifically recognized in areas such as overall value, service to veterans and creating opportunity for in-state students further demonstrates that we are an institution of public higher education doing its job for the region and the state of Mississippi.”

Additional rankings by U.S. News & World Report include:

  • Best Value Schools for In-State Students – Regional Universities (South) – No. 19
  • Best Colleges for Veterans – Regional Universities (South) – No. 29 (tied)
  • Top Performers on Social Mobility – Public Regional Universities (South) – No. 4 (tied)
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs – No. 195 (tied)
  • Regional Universities (South) – No. 48 (tied)

According to U.S. News & World Report, the Best Colleges rankings help prospective students and their families compare institutions as they look for the best fit. The rankings provide a data-driven comparison of more than 1,700 colleges and universities using up to 17 measures of academic quality and graduate success.

To view the entire 2027 rankings, please visit www.usnews.com/colleges.

These rankings build on other recent national recognitions, including being ranked No. 14 in the South and No. 185 nationally by Washington Monthly’s 2026 Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars and being recognized as one of America’s Best Colleges of 2026-27 by Time.

About The W

Located in historic Columbus, Mississippi, The W was founded in 1884 as the first state-supported college for women in the United States. Today, the university is home to 2,371 students in more than 70 majors and concentrations and has educated men for 40 years. The university is nationally recognized for low student debt, community and social mobility which empowers students to BE BOLD.

Be Bold.