UMW Ranked Among Top Colleges In The West By U.S. News & World Report

The University of Montana Western has been ranked #5 in Top Public Schools – Regional Colleges (West) and #15 in Best Regional Colleges (West) by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025-26 rankings.

U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings have guided millions of students and families in their college search. The 2026 edition evaluates more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities, using up to 17 factors to measure academic quality and graduate success.

“For over four decades, Best Colleges has served as a trusted and data-backed resource for students and families navigating the complex college search process,” says LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor for Education at U.S. News. “Over the years, Best Colleges has evolved into a comprehensive tool that reflects the changing landscape of higher education, providing prospective students with a crucial starting point to identify schools that align with their academic and personal goals.”

U.S. News calculates each ranking based on a specific methodology, using factors including graduation and retention rates, academic quality, Pell Grant recipient graduation rates, social mobility, first-generation student graduation rates, student support services, financial support, and academic resources for faculty.

In addition to being ranked #15 in Regional Colleges (West) and #5 in Top Public Schools (West), Montana Western also ranked #22 in Top Performers on Social Mobility. The Western region includes 15 states: Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Montana, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Alaska, and Hawaii.

To view Montana Western’s full rankings list, visit: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/montana-western-2537/overall-rankings.

Academic programs at Montana Western include Biology, Business and Technology, Environmental Sciences, Education, English, Equine Studies, Health and Human Performance, Fine Arts, Mathematics, and History, Philosophy, and Social Sciences.

Students at Montana Western enjoy a close-knit community and small class sizes, where they work closely with peers and professors. The 20-acre campus is an excellent place for students to benefit from the Experience One program, which emphasizes experiential learning and helps students build critical and creative thinking skills for real-world careers and graduate school. Montana Western’s commitment to engagement and support offers students a high-quality education at one of the most affordable tuition rates in the region.

For more information about Experience One and the University of Montana Western, or to schedule a tour, visit www.umwestern.edu or call 877-683-7331.