For the 20th consecutive year, University of the Ozarks is ranked among the top 10 regional colleges in the South by U.S. News & World Report in its annual college rankings.
In the 2027 edition of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges, released on Tuesday, Ozarks was ranked fourth overall among South Regional Colleges. The overall rankings examine such criteria as academic reputation, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving.
In addition, Ozarks was ranked third in the Best Value category in the South Regional Colleges category. It is the sixth consecutive year that the University has been ranked in the top three best values among nearly 100 regional colleges and universities in the 12-state South Region.
The best value rankings evaluate the cost of attending a university relative to the quality of the institution and takes into account such things as the percentage of students receiving need-based financial aid and the average institutional aid those students receive.
“Being recognized among the South’s top regional colleges for 20 consecutive years speaks to the remarkable consistency and strength of the Ozarks experience,” said U of O President Richard Dunsworth. “We’re especially proud that this recognition continues to reflect both the quality and value of an Ozarks education. Our faculty and staff are deeply committed to knowing our students, supporting their goals and providing the opportunities and resources they need to thrive in college and beyond. These rankings are a reflection of that commitment and of the extraordinary community we have built at Ozarks.”
The magazine’s annual late summer publication that analyzes institutions of higher education also had Ozarks ranked third among top private schools in the South Region.
The publication’s South Region consists of primarily undergraduate colleges and universities in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Virginia.
Topics: About