UMass Amherst Ranked 26th in US News and World Report’s Top Public Universities for 2025
Umass Amherst. Photo: umass.edu
The University’s Elaine Marieb School of Nursing Surges into Top 30.
Source: UMass News and Media
The University of Massachusetts Amherst ranks 26th among the nation’s best public universities in the 2025 Best Colleges rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, rising six spots from last year.
This is the 10th straight year that UMass Amherst has been ranked as a top public university and is the only public university in New England to place in the top 30.
“I am thrilled to see that UMass Amherst continues to rank among the best universities across the nation,” said Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. “We have world-class faculty and staff supporting our students’ success and preparing them to take on complex challenges as they join our communities and enter the 21st century workforce. These rankings reflect the growing excellence, leadership, and impact that are now synonymous with the UMass Amherst name.”
UMass Amherst climbed nine spots from last year to No. 58 among all 434 national universities, both public and private, placing in the top 15% nationally and achieving its highest ranking to date. UMass stands alone as the only public university in New England in the top 58 in this national overall ranking.
The UMass Amherst nursing program climbed significantly to No. 26, up from its No. 52 spot last year.
“We are very proud of this rise in the rankings that reflects the incredible experience our faculty, staff and students create here through their teaching, research, and practice of nursing,” said Allison Vorderstrasse, Dean of the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing.
The UMass Amherst computer science program ranks No. 34, up six spots from last year. The artificial intelligence program claims the same spot as last year at No. 20.
The U.S. News rankings are based on a variety of weighted factors. All schools in the National Universities category offer a range of undergraduate majors as well as master’s and doctoral degrees, and emphasize faculty research or award professional practice doctorates. Academic programs are ranked based on peer assessment scores and include both public and private institutions.
Other highlights include UMass Amherst’s undergraduate business program placing at No. 65 and engineering at No. 57, which is up four spots from last year. Psychology was ranked at No. 42.
The university also places on the Best for Veterans list at No. 34, up six spots from last year.