Earns Top Marks for Value, Academic Programs and Multiple Categories in Latest Rankings
MACON, Ga. — Mercer University continues its ascent among the nation’s leading private research universities, earning new distinctions in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges Rankings. In this year’s rankings, Mercer was ranked the No. 75 private university in the nation in the new Top Private Colleges-National Universities category and rose 21 spots to No. 148 overall among all public and private universities nationwide.
Mercer also remained among the nation’s top institutions for value, rising to No. 37 among Best Value Schools, while earning national recognition across multiple academic programs and disciplines. The Best Value Schools category considers an institution’s academic quality and the previous year’s net cost of attendance for a student who received the average level of need-based financial aid.
“Mercer’s growing recognition among the nation’s leading universities reflects our unwavering commitment to academic excellence, student success and to delivering an elite, top-tier education at an exceptional value,” said Mercer University President Penny L. Elkins, Ph.D. “Combined with our low student-faculty ratio, Mercer’s academic strengths provide students with personalized mentorship and the academic preparation and experience needed to lead and change the world.”
Among this year’s honors, Mercer’s School of Engineering ranked No. 44 among engineering programs at institutions where a bachelor’s or master’s degree is the highest degree offered, and Mercer’s Tift College of Education’s undergraduate teaching program ranked No. 49 nationally. The University’s undergraduate business, nursing, computer science and psychology programs also earned national recognition, and the University was again included among the Best Colleges for Veterans. These rankings are based on assessments from deans and senior faculty members at accredited programs across the country.
“These rankings reflect the quality of the Mercer experience and the success of our students long after graduation,” said Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Lisa M. Lundquist, Pharm.D. “With 95% of graduates employed or pursuing advanced degrees within six months of graduation, Mercer students are translating their education into meaningful careers and lives of purpose.”
The 2027 Best Colleges rankings evaluate more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities using as many as 17 measures of academic quality and graduate success. The rankings, first published in 1983, provide information about institutions and factors such as graduation rates, student retention and postgraduation earnings.
According to U.S. News & World Report, schools in the national universities category offer a full range of undergraduate majors, plus master’s and doctoral programs and are committed to producing groundbreaking research. To view the full rankings and see more information on U.S. News & World Report’s ranking methodology, visit usnews.com/colleges.
