National Rankings Capture Excellence of USM Institutions in Wide Range of Categories

U.S. News & World Report, Other Leading Organizations, Recognize Strong Performance of USM Universities


Baltimore, Md. (Sept. 26, 2023) – The consistently high quality and value of institutions in the University System of Maryland (USM) are prominent this fall as several national and global rankings recognize their overall excellence in areas that include innovation, social mobility, diversity, and strength of undergraduate teaching.

The recent release of U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking of colleges and universities is only the latest in an impressive stretch of recognitions for USM institutions.

“These strong rankings affirm the excellence we achieve every day,” said USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman. “They speak to all the things we value, all the things we strive for: an affordable education, one that produces exceptional student outcomes and drives social mobility. They speak to our outstanding teaching, research, and scholarship, to our mission of civic engagement and public service. I’m proud these publications see the same excellence I do.”

Princeton Review, which formulates its rankings from student input, has three USM schools among its best: Salisbury University; University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC); and University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP). In measuring social mobility, public service, and research, Washington Monthly includes every eligible USM school in its best-value list for the Northeast.

Several publications and organizations have announced their rankings since mid-September. The 2024 edition of the comprehensive U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” guide recognizes USM institutions for excellence in several classifications.

Each of the USM’s individual institutions has received recognition:

University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) has earned its highest-ever ranking among national universities from U.S. News & World Report, cracking the top 50 for the first time.

The university rose nine spots since last year to No. 46 in the national listing and held steady at No. 19 among public universities in the influential 2023-24 “Best Colleges” report released on Sept. 18. The university now has a combined 69 Top-25 undergraduate and graduate programs, according to U.S. News, which began its annual rankings 40 years ago.

UMCP ranked No. 6 overall in management information systems, No. 8 in learning communities, and No. 11 in cybersecurity. The Robert H. Smith School of Business rose to 21st overall and No. 11 among public institutions.

Forbes recently ranked UMCP No. 13 among public universities in its “America’s Top Colleges” list, which spotlights schools that offer an excellent education at a great price, graduate high-earners, and propel students to become successful entrepreneurs and influential leaders in their fields.

In the 2023 Academic Ranking of World Universities—known as the “Shanghai Rankings”—UMCP made the Top 50 universities worldwide and came in at No. 11 among U.S. publics.

Campus Pride named UMCP the No. 1 school in America for LGBTQ+ students.

Bowie State, Coppin State, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore
All three of the USM’s Historically Black Institutions are recognized among the Top 35 of the U.S. News list for Historically Black Colleges (HBCUs). University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) improved two spots from last year to No. 14; Bowie State University advanced two spots to No. 16; and Coppin State University improved two spots to No. 33. Bowie State ranked No. 22 among most innovative schools, while UMES improved its ranking by one position for the fourth straight year.

UMES and Bowie State both ranked in the Top 10 among public HBCUs on the U.S. News list.

Salisbury University
For the 27th consecutive year, U.S. News ranked Salisbury University (SU) among the nation’s “Best Colleges,” placing it at No. 54 among Regional Universities North and No. 18 among public universities.

The publication also named SU one of the region’s “Best Value Schools” and “Top Public Schools,” noting it as one of the “Best Colleges for Veterans” and “Top Performers on Social Mobility.” U.S. News also lauded SU for having one of the “Best Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs.”

In addition, Money magazine has named SU among “The Best Colleges in America.”

For the 10th year, Forbes named SU among “America’s Top Colleges.” In recent months, SU was named among The Best 389 Colleges for the 25th consecutive year by Princeton Review and one of “The Best Colleges in America” by Money. Princeton Review also ranked SU’s Patricia R. Guerrieri Academic Commons a Top 10 “Best College Library” in the U.S.

Towson University
In the Regional Universities North category, U.S. News ranked Towson University (TU) at No. 6 among public institutions, up three spots from last year. TU ranked No. 5 among regional universities for veterans.

The Wall Street Journal rankings, released earlier this month, place TU at No. 1 among all public universities in Maryland, and second to only Johns Hopkins among all universities—public or private—in the state.  Money magazine ranked TU among the top universities in the Northeast and among the nation’s best public universities, with a 4.5-star rating.

In other recent rankings, Washington Monthly listed TU at No. 14 nationally among the Master's University category, and at No. 19 in the Northeast for those cited as "Best Bang for the Buck."

University of Maryland, Baltimore County
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) jumped several spots, tied for No. 133, on the U.S. News rankings list of Best National Universities. UMBC ranks No. 12 nationally for undergraduate teaching. The university also keeps its longstanding position as one of the nation’s most innovative institutions, ranking No. 15 this year.

Since receiving a Research 1 Carnegie designation in 2022, UMBC has advanced nearly 20 slots in the undergraduate research and creative projects rankings by U.S. News, now nationally ranked at No. 27. UMBC remains within the nation’s top-100 public universities, ranking No. 70 overall, and also moving up to No. 87 in the nation as one of the best colleges for veterans. 

UMBC had a 4.5-star rating on the Money magazine “Best Colleges in America” list. The Forbes list of Top Colleges ranked UMBC No. 30 among public universities.

UMBC is one of only two Research 1 Carnegie institutions in the country that excelled in all 10 categories comprising the “Great Colleges to Work For” list.

Frostburg State University
U.S. News ranked Frostburg State University No. 40 among public universities in the Regional Universities North tier and No. 64 in the region for its “Top Performers on Social Mobility.” Money magazine gave FSU 3-1/2 stars in its “Best Colleges in America 2023” list.

Washington Monthly ranked FSU No. 49 on its “Best Bang for the Buck Northeast” list.

University of Baltimore
The University of Baltimore (UBalt) attained national recognition for social mobility and earning performance, two consistent areas of strength. U.S. News ranked UBalt as a top regional performer for social mobility and ranked the university No. 36 among public universities in the Regional Universities North.

For the second year in a row, UBalt has received the Military Friendly Gold School designation—an assessment based on a survey of student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, persistence (degree advancement or transfer), and loan default rates for all students, and, specifically, for student veterans.

University of Maryland Global Campus
Strong rankings also continue for the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC). U.S News ranked UMGC to the No. 55-58 spots in top public schools in the North. UMGC ranked No. 154 nationally for its nursing program and No. 167 among top performers in social mobility. UMGC rankings from the recent U.S. News list can be seen here.

A recent recognition from U.S. News named UMGC to a list of 10 higher education institutions nationally that excel with opportunities for transfer students. The list of “Colleges That Enroll the Most Transfer Students” is here.

In the 2022 Military Times “Best for Vets: Colleges” survey, UMGC ranked No. 1 among all online universities, No. 4 among public universities, and No. 5 among the 300 universities that participated in the rankings. The 2023 rankings are expected to be released later this fall.

University of Maryland, Baltimore
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB)—Maryland’s only public health, law, and human services university—comprises six professional schools and an interdisciplinary graduate school. U.S. News ranked the UMB School of Nursing Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) program No. 10 in the nation. Forbes recognized UMB for being one of the best employers for diversity.

The university confers most health care, human services, and law professional degrees in Maryland each year.

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The USM comprises 12 institutions: Bowie State University; Coppin State University; Frostburg State University; Salisbury University; Towson University; the University of Baltimore; the University of Maryland, Baltimore; the University of Maryland, Baltimore County; the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science; the University of Maryland, College Park; the University of Maryland Eastern Shore; and the University of Maryland Global Campus. The USM also includes three regional centers—the Universities at Shady Grove, the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown, and the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland—at which USM universities offer upper-division undergraduate and graduate courses.

USM institutions and programs are among the nation’s best in quality and value according to several national rankings. To learn more about the University System of Maryland, visit www.usmd.edu. To learn about the new USM Strategic Plan, “Vision 2030: From Excellence to Preeminence,” visit https://www.usmd.edu/vision2030/.



 

Contact: Mike Lurie
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: mlurie@usmd.edu