Home Nonprofit & Education Education Brown remains No. 13 in U.S. News’ best colleges, PC moves up...

Brown remains No. 13 in U.S. News’ best colleges, PC moves up in regional ranking

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PBN Staff

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09/23/2025

i9rNIZpB-browngates-1 — BROWN UNIVERSITY tied with Dartmouth College to remain No. 13 among the best national universities according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Colleges rankings released Tuesday. / COURTESY BROWN UNIVERSITY

PROVIDENCE – Brown University tied Dartmouth College as the 13th-best national university, while Providence College moved up among the best regional universities, in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Colleges rankings released Tuesday. The publication’s 41st annual rankings evaluate close to 1,700 colleges and universities using up to 17 measures of academic quality. This

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PROVIDENCE – Brown University tied Dartmouth College as the 13th-best national university, while Providence College moved up among the best regional universities, in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Colleges rankings released Tuesday. The publication’s 41st annual rankings evaluate close to 1,700 colleges and universities using up to 17 measures of academic quality. This year’s survey includes specialized rankings, such as the best value schools, most innovative colleges, top performers on social mobility and historically Black colleges and universities, as well as universities with the greatest commitment to undergraduate teaching. This was the second-straight year Brown ranked No. 13 in the National Universities category. The Ivy League institution also ranked first in Writing in the Disciplines, No. 2 for Undergraduate Teaching Programs and No. 3 for Best Colleges for Veterans. PC moved up to No. 2 in the Regional Universities North category after dropping down to No. 3 in the 2025 study. The Dominican Friars college also ranked No. 4 for Best Undergraduate Teaching and No. 15 for Best Value Schools. Rhode Island School of Design ranked No. 3 in the Regional Universities North and No. 1 for Most Innovative Schools. Bryant University in Smithfield ranked No. 5 for Regional Universities North. The University of Rhode Island tied the University of Utah at No. 151 in the National Universities category. The Rhode Island college’s best ranking is a tie at No. 74 for Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs. 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. “For over four decades, Best Colleges has served as a trusted and data-backed resource for students and families navigating the complex college search process,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News. “Over the years, Best Colleges has evolved into a comprehensive tool that reflects the changing landscape of higher education, providing prospective students with a crucial starting point to identify schools that align with their academic and personal goals.” Brown University [Each of the following rankings are in the National Universities category, unless otherwise noted]

No. 1 – Writing in the Disciplines
No. 2 – Best in Undergraduate Teaching
No. 3 – Best Colleges for Veterans
No. 4 – Senior Capstone
No. 5 [tie] – First-Year Experiences
No. 8 [tie] – Service Learning
No. 11 – Economics
No. 13 [tie] – National Universities
No. 15 – Best Value Schools No. 28 [tie) – Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects
No. 28 [tie) – Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects
No. 31 [tie] – Most Innovative Schools
No. 42 [tie] – Undergraduate Engineering Programs (Doctorate) (single category)
No. 159 – Top Performers on Social Mobility

Bryant University [Each of the following rankings are in the National Universities category, unless otherwise noted]

No. 5 – Regional Universities North
No. 11 [tie] – Best Undergraduate Teaching
No. 16 [tie] – Most Innovative Schools
No. 33 – Best Value Schools
No. 135 [tie] – Top Performers on Social Mobility (tie)

Johnson & Wales University [Each of the following rankings are in the Regional Universities North category, unless otherwise noted]

No. 84 [tie] – Regional Universities North
No. 7 – Most Innovative Schools
No. 129 [tie] – Top Performers on Social Mobility
No. 226 – Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs

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. 2 – Regional Universities North
No. 4 – Best Undergraduate Teaching
No. 15 – Best Value Schools
No. 18 [tie] – Most Innovative Schools
No. 91 in [tie] – Top Performers on Social Mobility
No. 174 [tie] – Economics

Rhode Island College [Each of the following rankings are in the Regional Universities North category, unless otherwise noted]

No. 28 [tie] – Top Public Schools
No. 84 [tie] – Regional Universities North
No. 32 – Top Performers on Social Mobility
No. 385 [tie] – Nursing

Rhode Island School of Design [Each of the following rankings are in the Regional Universities North category, unless otherwise noted]

No. 1 – Most Innovative Schools
No. 3 – Regional Universities North
No. 59 – Top Performers on Social Mobility (tie)

Roger Williams University [Each of the following rankings are in the Regional Universities North category, unless otherwise noted]

No. 35 – [tie] Regional Universities North
No. 47 – Best Colleges for Veterans
No. 67 – Best Value Schools
No. 99 – [tie] Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
No. 157 – [tie] Top Performers on Social Mobility

Salve Regina University [Each of the following rankings are in the Regional Universities North category, unless otherwise noted]

No. 11 – Best Undergraduate Teaching
No. 24 – Regional Universities North
No. 36 – Top Performers on Social Mobility (tie)
No. 42 – Best Value Schools
No. 249 [tie] – Nursing (tie)

Stonehill College [Each of the following rankings are in the National Liberal Arts Colleges category, unless otherwise noted]

No. 82 – National Liberal Arts Colleges
No. 77 – Best Value Schools
No. 160 [tie] – Top Performers on Social Mobility

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth [Each of the following rankings are in the National Universities category, unless otherwise noted]

No. 242 – National Universities
No. 59 [tie] – Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs
No. 136 [tie] – Top Public Schools
No. 150 [tie] – Undergraduate Engineering Doctorate Programs
No. 110 [tie] – Top Performers on Social Mobility

University of Rhode Island [Each of the following rankings are in the National Universities category, unless otherwise noted]

No. 79 – Top Public Schools
No. 78 – Best Value Schools
No. 74 – Nursing (tie)
No. 106 – Best Colleges for Veterans (tie)
No.135 – Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (tie)
No. 151 [tie] – National Universities
No. 158 – Economics (tie)
No. 291 – Top Performers on Social Mobility (tie)

Wheaton College [Each of the following rankings are in the National Liberal Arts Colleges category, unless otherwise noted]

No. 76 – National Liberal Arts Colleges
No. 67 – Best Value Schools
No. 109 [tie] – Top Performers on Social Mobility.