MTSU Earns Top 10 Ranking Among Public Universities in the South for 2027
Middle Tennessee State University has once again earned national recognition, with several undergraduate academic programs receiving rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges list.
MTSU tied with Louisiana Tech University for the No. 6 spot among Top Public Schools in the South. The university also received recognition for its academic programs, support for veterans, affordability and efforts to improve social mobility.
“This recognition from U.S. News & World Report underscores the hard work and dedication by our faculty and staff in providing quality and affordable higher education that changes the trajectory of our students for the better,” said MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee.
The annual rankings evaluate approximately 1,500 colleges and universities nationwide, comparing institutions across several academic and student success categories.
Five MTSU undergraduate programs received national recognition in the 2027 rankings. Undergraduate Engineering, offered through the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, ranked No. 106 nationally. The Jennings A. Jones College of Business earned a No. 230 ranking for Undergraduate Business, while the School of Nursing in the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences ranked No. 288.
MTSU's Undergraduate Computer Science program, also part of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, ranked No. 350 nationally. The university's Undergraduate Psychology program was also recognized among the nation's best, although no numerical ranking was provided.
In addition to its national academic rankings, MTSU performed well in several regional categories.
The university ranked No. 6 among Best Colleges for Veterans in the South, highlighting its commitment to military-connected students through the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center.
MTSU also ranked No. 14 for Best Value for In-State Students, No. 16 among Regional Universities in the South, No. 41 for Social Mobility and No. 54 among Best Value Schools.
The No. 6 ranking among public universities places MTSU alongside several other well-known institutions in the South. The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, earned the top position, followed by Appalachian State University in North Carolina and the College of Charleston in South Carolina.
Georgia College and State University and Western Carolina University tied for fourth place, while MTSU and Louisiana Tech University shared sixth place. Radford University and the University of West Florida tied for eighth, followed by Florida Gulf Coast University in tenth.
The rankings come as students and families continue to place greater emphasis on affordability, academic quality and career opportunities when selecting a college.
“With families increasingly scrutinizing the true cost and return on investment of a college degree, our goal is to provide clear, actionable data,” said LaMont Jones, education editor for U.S. News & World Report.
For MTSU, the latest rankings reinforce the university's position as one of the South's leading public institutions, offering nationally recognized academic programs while maintaining a focus on affordability, student achievement and career preparation.
