PROVIDENCE – Both Brown University and Providence College saw their respective rankings slightly decrease this year, but they and other local colleges remain among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report’s latest annual Best Colleges rankings released Tuesday.
The publication’s 40th annual rankings evaluated close to 1,500 colleges and universities using up to 17 measures of academic quality. Once again, U.S. News put a greater emphasis on social mobility and outcomes of graduating students. The publication also introduced a new category on programs enhancing students’ experiences.
Brown saw its ranking in the National Universities category drop year to year from No. 9 to No. 13 – the same ranking it was two years ago. The Ivy League institution is also ranked No. 3 in both Undergraduate Teaching Programs and Best Colleges for Veterans, as well as in the top 10 in four different subcategory rankings within the Programs That Enhance Student Experience category – including No. 1 in Writing in the Disciplines subcategory.
After four straight years at No. 1 in the Regional Universities North category, PC dropped down to No. 3. The Dominican Friars college was also ranked No. 2 for Undergraduate Teaching Programs and No. 12 for Best Value Schools.
Rhode Island School of Design, while not formally participating in U.S. News’ program, was ranked No. 4 in the Regional Universities North category – including tied at No. 1 with Bentley University in Massachusetts for Most Innovative Schools. Bryant University in Smithfield was ranked No. 6 for Regional Universities North.
The University of Rhode Island was tied for No. 152 in the National Universities category. Its best ranking was a tie at No. 54 for Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs. Rhode Island College was tied at No. 37 for Top Public Schools.
Princeton University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University were again ranked in the top three for National Universities, according to U.S. News.
The rankings for each of the local colleges are:
Brown University
[Each of the following rankings are in the National Universities category, unless otherwise noted]
- No. 13 – National Universities
- No. 12 – Best Value Schools
- No. 18 – Most Innovative Schools
- No. 129 [tie] – Top Performers on Social Mobility
- No. 3 – Undergraduate Teaching Programs
- No. 11 [tie] – Undergraduate Economics Programs (single category)
- No. 25 [tie] – Undergraduate Computer Science Programs (single category)
- No. 43 [tie] – Undergraduate Engineering Programs (Doctorate) (single category)
- No. 14 [tie] – Undergraduate Psychology Programs (single category)
- No. 3 – Best Colleges for Veterans
- No. 1 – Programs That Enhance Student Experience (Writing in the Disciplines)
- No. 8 – Programs That Enhance Student Experience (First-year Experiences)
- No. 4 – Programs That Enhance Student Experience (Senior Capstone)
- No. 10 [tie] – Programs That Enhance Student Experience (Service Learning)
- No. 21 – Programs That Enhance Student Experience [Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects]
Bryant University
[Each of the following rankings are in the Regional Universities North category, unless otherwise noted]
- No. 6 – Regional Universities North
- No. 36 – Best Value Schools
- No. 16 [tie] – Most Innovative Schools
- No. 139 [tie] – Top Performers on Social Mobility
- No. 198 [tie] – Undergraduate Business Programs (single category)
Johnson & Wales University
[Each of the following rankings are in the Regional Universities North category, unless otherwise noted]
- No. 91 – Regional Universities North
- No. 16 [tie] – Most Innovative Schools
- No. 111 [tie] – Top Performers on Social Mobility
New England Institute of Technology
Unranked in Regional Colleges North category
Providence College
[Each of the following rankings are in the Regional Universities North category, unless otherwise noted]
- No. 3 – Regional Universities North
- No. 12 – Best Value Schools
- No. 115 [tie] – Top Performers on Social Mobility
- No. 2 – Undergraduate Teaching Programs
- No. 147 [tie] – Undergraduate Business Programs (single category)
- No. 180 [tie] – Undergraduate Economics Programs (single category)
- No. 180 [tie] – Undergraduate Psychology Programs (single category)
Rhode Island College
[Each of the following rankings are in the Regional Universities North category, unless otherwise noted]
- No. 101 [tie] – Regional Universities North
- No. 37 [tie] – Top Public Schools
- No. 84 [tie] – Top Performers on Social Mobility
- No. 328-584 [tie] – Undergraduate Computer Science Programs (single category)
- No. 345 [tie] – Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs
- No. 359 [tie] – Undergraduate Psychology Programs (single category)
Rhode Island School of Design
[Each of the following rankings are in the Regional Universities North category, unless otherwise noted]
- No. 4 – Regional Universities North
- No. 1 [tie] – Most Innovative Schools
- No. 69 – Top Performers on Social Mobility
- No. 9 [tie] – Undergraduate Teaching Programs
Roger Williams University
[Each of the following rankings are in the Regional Universities North category, unless otherwise noted]
- No. 44 [tied] – Regional Universities North
- No. 61 – Best Value Schools
- No. 162 [tie] – Top Performers on Social Mobility
- No. 281 [tie] – Undergraduate Business Programs (single category)
- No. 328-584 [tie] – Undergraduate Computer Science Programs (single category)
- No. No. 131 [tie] – Undergraduate Engineering Programs (No Doctorate) (single category)
- No. 395 [tie] – Undergraduate Psychology Programs (single category)
Salve Regina University
[Each of the following rankings are in the Regional Universities North category, unless otherwise noted]
- No. 27 – Regional Universities North
- No. 40 – Best Value Schools
- No. 54 [tie] – Top Performers on Social Mobility
- No. 218 [tie] – Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs
Stonehill College
[Each of the following rankings are in the National Liberal Arts Colleges category, unless otherwise noted]
- No. 83 – National Liberal Arts Colleges
- No. 73 – Best Value Schools
- No. 134 [tie] – Top Performers on Social Mobility
- No. 440-532 [tie] – Undergraduate Business Programs (single category)
- No. 475 [tie] – Undergraduate Psychology Programs (single category)
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
[Each of the following rankings are in the National Universities category, unless otherwise noted]
- No. 244 – National Universities
- No. 135 – Top Public Schools
- No. 102 [tie] – Top Performers on Social Mobility
- No. 147 [tie] – Undergraduate Business Programs (single category)
- No. 126 [tie] – Undergraduate Computer Science Programs (single category)
- No. 139 [tie] – Undergraduate Engineering Doctorate Programs (single category)
- No. 74 [tie] – Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs
- No. 164 [tie] – Undergraduate Psychology Programs (single category)
University of Rhode Island
[Each of the following rankings are in the National Universities category, unless otherwise noted]
- No. 152 [tie] – National Universities
- No. 81 – Top Public Schools
- No. 83 – Best Value Schools
- No. 318 [tie] – Top Performers om Social Mobility
- No. 180 [tie] – Undergraduate Economics Programs
- No. 147 [tie] – Undergraduate Business Programs (single category)
- No. 126 [tie] – Undergraduate Computer Science Programs (single category)
- No. 139 [tie] – Undergraduate Engineering Doctorate Programs (single category)
- No. 54 [tie] – Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs
- No. 106 [tie] – Best Colleges for Veterans
Wheaton College
[Each of the following rankings are in the National Liberal Arts Colleges category, unless otherwise noted]
- No. 74 – National Liberal Arts Colleges
- No. 48 – Best Value Schools
- No. 78 [tie] – Top Performers on Social Mobility
- No. 180 [tie] – Undergraduate Psychology Programs (single category)
James Bessette is the PBN special projects editor, and also covers the nonprofit and education sectors. You may reach him at Bessette@PBN.com. You may also follow him on X at @James_Bessette.
