HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — James Madison University (JMU) moved up 12 spots to number 67 among public schools and earned three top 50 rankings in the 2027 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges. Overall, JMU rose 14 spots to number 137 among National Universities. 

The report, released today, September 22, marked JMU’s fifth year in the category. 

Three of the university’s rankings placed it in the top 50 nationally: 

  • 22nd in Best Undergraduate Teaching  
  • 26th in Undergraduate Engineering Programs (No Doctorate)  
  • 50th in Most Innovative Schools 

According to officials, JMU also climbed 42 spots to number 56 for its Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs. 

“I’m proud of what this recognition says about our faculty, staff and students,” JMU President Jim Schmidt said. “Rankings are one measure, but what they reflect matters most: the quality of a JMU education and where it takes our students. Moving up among both public and national universities is a striking sign of our momentum, and the 42-spot rise in undergraduate nursing is especially exciting. With our new Nursing Fast Flex degree pathway and plans for the College of Health and Behavioral Studies building expansion, we are preparing more students to meet Virginia’s workforce needs.” 

“We are really just getting started,” Schmidt said. “The Madison Promise, our strategic plan, has set a course for us to build on this momentum and keep delivering an exceptional student experience.” 

Other JMU rankings included: 

  • Best Value Schools for In-State Students (#80) 
  • Best Colleges for Veterans (#96) 
  • Undergraduate Psychology Programs (#103) 
  • Undergraduate Business Programs (#116) 
  • Undergraduate Economics Programs (#140) 
  • Undergraduate Computer Science Programs (#173) 

U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings are reportedly based on in-depth analyses of a wide range of data points used to assess academic quality and institutional performance.

The 2027 edition evaluated more than 1,700 colleges and universities across the United States.