North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) is celebrating one of its strongest showings in more than a decade, climbing 12 spots in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best College Rankings. Released Tuesday, September 23, the report evaluated over 1,700 institutions nationwide on 17 measures of academic quality.
NCWU proudly ranked No. 33 in Regional Colleges South, the University’s highest position in more than ten years, and earned recognition as No. 14 in Best Value Schools. In addition, NCWU was ranked No. 9 Best Colleges for Veterans and recognized in the Social Mobility category for enrolling and graduating large numbers of first-generation and Pell Grant students.
These distinctions build on recent accolades, including being named a 2025–2026 Military Friendly® Gold Top 10 School with an impressive #2 national ranking among private institutions not offering doctorate degrees, and earning the designation of #1 Military Spouse Friendly® School.
“U.S. News’ Best Colleges remains a reliable resource for prospective students and their families as they navigate the college selection process,” said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor for Education at U.S. News. “With over half of the ranking factors dedicated to student outcomes, the rankings and editorial content provide vital data, college advice and informed reporting to every student pursuing higher education.”
“Our dedication to students and the community is reflected in our consistency of being recognized by U.S. News & World Report year after year. The personal, practical, and purpose-driven education that we provide our students is something that I’m proud of; in addition, our faculty and staff do an exceptional job of ensuring a quality experience for these future leaders,” shared NCWU President Dr. Evan D. Duff.
For another consecutive year, NC Wesleyan has held a spot in the top 50 Best Regional Colleges (South), reaffirming its position as the hometown university of choice for students seeking high-quality, affordable education.
To view the full list of 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings, visit: usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-universities-south.
About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, Real Estate, News and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
