The University of Maryland reached its highest-ever standing in the U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” rankings, earning the No. 16 spot among public universities in its 2026 edition. UMD also climbed two spots to No. 42 among national universities, continuing a steady rise over the past five years.
The rankings reflect significant gains in graduation and retention rates, investment in educational experiences, faculty compensation and post-graduation student earnings. U.S. News noted that UMD now holds 69 top-25 placements across its schools, colleges, programs and specialties.
Prospective students and families have relied on the Best Colleges guide for more than four decades to evaluate universities nationwide, demonstrating the university’s growing reputation and impact.
Earlier this year, the School of Public Policy also received national recognition, ranking No. 27 among graduate public affairs programs. Those rankings build on the School’s growing national profile. It earned top marks in several specialties, including No. 3 in homeland security, No. 13 in public finance and budgeting, No. 21 in public policy analysis, No. 22 in urban policy and No. 23 in nonprofit management. Known for fostering collaboration across disciplines and connecting classroom learning with real-world policy challenges, the School prepares students with the skills and perspective to shape debates and advance solutions at every level of government.
Together, these achievements highlight UMD’s continued momentum on the national stage. With its record-high placement, the university further solidifies its standing as one of the nation’s premier public research institutions.