UCM Ranked Among Top 20 Midwest Public Schools by U.S. News & World Report

 

U.S. News and World Report has included the University of Central Missouri (UCM) among its top-ranked universities in several categories for 2027. 

U.S. News and World Report, a resource prospective students and their families use to help determine which institution best fits their higher education needs, released its 42nd annual Best Colleges rankings on Sept. 22.

UCM was ranked #74 among Regional Universities in the Midwest and #20 among Top Public Schools in the Midwest. 

Regionally, UCM was recognized as #11 in Best Value for In-State Students and #34 in Best Value Schools, jumping 23 spots compared to last year’s report. The university also earned recognition as one of the Best Colleges for Veterans (#32) and a Top Performer on Social Mobility (#76).

UCM continues to stand out as a regional university committed to helping students graduate on time with less debt as they prepare for future careers. The university offers more than 150 academic programs, affordable tuition and numerous scholarship opportunities. The university also offers tuition benefits for veterans and military members, as well as in-state tuition for their dependents. 

 

“UCM provides affordable, high-quality programs in applied science and technology, as well as health care, business, education, arts, humanities, and social sciences,” said Tim Crowley, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “Every degree program requires an applied learning experience, artificial intelligence literacy, and many programs are affiliated with major corporate partners across the Kansas City region. We are committed to being an innovative applied university where students learn by doing and power the 21st-century workforce. We stand apart from other regional comprehensive universities in the region with our high first destination success rate and the economic value proposition we consistently deliver.”

Other UCM highlights from the 2027 Best Colleges report include:

• Among the 17 public and private Missouri Regional Universities in the Midwest, UCM ranked #6.

• Nationally, UCM was ranked among the best undergraduate programs for Nursing (#457), Business (#390) and Computer Science (#502).

The national and regional rankings evaluate nearly 1,700 colleges and universities using up to 17 measures of academic quality and graduate success. The regional university rankings are divided into four regions: North, South, Midwest and West. The Midwest Region included 177 public and private institutions that offer a broad scope of undergraduate programs and some master’s programs but few doctoral programs.