UMW Ranked No. 4 Among Top Public Regional Colleges in the West by U.S. News & World Report

The University of Montana Western has been ranked among the top public regional colleges in the West by U.S. News & World Report, earning a tie for No. 4 in the publication’s 2027 Best Colleges rankings.

Montana Western also tied for No. 18 in the overall Regional Colleges – West ranking and ranked No. 28 in the Top Performers on Social Mobility – Regional Colleges (West) category. The Western region includes 15 states: Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Montana, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Alaska, and Hawaii.

“We’re incredibly proud to see Montana Western recognized among the top public regional colleges in the West. This honor reflects the care our faculty and staff bring to their work every day and the dedication and accomplishments of our students,” said UMW Chancellor, Dr. Estee Aiken.

The Top Performers on Social Mobility ranking recognizes institutions based on their success in enrolling and graduating students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Montana Western’s No. 28 ranking places the university among institutions recognized by U.S. News for their success in promoting social mobility.

The 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings provide a data-driven comparison of more than 1,700 colleges and universities using up to 17 measures of academic quality and graduate success. Student outcomes account for 52% of the overall ranking and include measures such as graduation and retention rates, graduation performance, outcomes for Pell Grant recipients and post-graduation earnings.

“With families increasingly scrutinizing the true cost and return on investment of a college degree, our goal is to provide clear, actionable data,” said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., Managing Editor for Education at U.S. News.

The 2027 rankings introduce a new Earnings by Major measure, which accounts for 5% of the overall ranking. The measure examines graduates’ earnings four years after completing their degrees while accounting for differences among academic fields. It replaces a measure of median federal loan debt used in previous editions of the rankings.

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

With ten academic departments and multiple degree options, including Biology, Business and Technology, Environmental Sciences, Education, English, Equine Studies, Health and Human Performance, Fine Arts, Mathematics, and History, Philosophy, and Social Sciences, students benefit from Montana Western’s Experience One program – authentic and immersive learning delivered on the block schedule.

Students enjoy a close-knit community and small class sizes, where they work closely with peers and professors and 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 and personalized college experience.

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.