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JMU rises to No. 67 among public universities

JMU rises to No. 67 among public universities

in 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings

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James Madison University moved up 12 spots to No. 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 No. 137 among National Universities.

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

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

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

JMU also climbed 42 spots to No. 56 for its Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs. 

#67

Top Public Schools

—U.S. News & World Report, 2027

“I’m proud of what this recognition says about our faculty, staff and students,” 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 notable JMU rankings included: 

  • Best Value Schools for In-State Students (No. 80
  • Best Colleges for Veterans (No. 96
  • Undergraduate Psychology Programs (No. 103
  • Undergraduate Business Programs (No. 116
  • Undergraduate Economics Programs (No. 140)
  • Undergraduate Computer Science Programs (No. 173

The university’s continued presence and upward movement in these rankings reflect the strength of its academic programs, its commitment to enhancing the value and impact of a JMU education, and its efforts to create an innovative campus community. 

U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings are 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.

Published: Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Last Updated: Monday, September 21, 2026

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