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Portland and Biddeford, Maine
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Alan Bennett

UNE advances more than 30 places in U.S. News' 2027 ranking of best colleges

Three students wearing lanyards walk across a sunny brick courtyard beneath a glass pedestrian bridge connecting campus buildings overlooking the water.

The University of New England has advanced more than 30 places in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, marking significant movement for the University among the nation’s National Universities.

UNE is among a small number of institutions nationwide to rise so considerably among the ranks in this year’s report, which evaluates colleges and universities on measures of academic quality and student outcomes.

U.S. News assesses institutions using factors including graduation and retention, faculty and financial resources, social mobility, student debt and graduate earnings, and academic reputation. UNE saw improvement across several measures, including its peer assessment score, which reflects ratings of academic quality from leaders at other colleges and universities.

The advancement reflects growing recognition of UNE’s academic programs, research enterprise, and focus on preparing students for successful professional lives in Maine and beyond.

“UNE’s rise in the U.S. News rankings reflects the momentum we are seeing across the University and, importantly, growing recognition of the quality of a UNE education,” said UNE President James Herbert. “Our students benefit from exceptional faculty, hands-on learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and experiences that prepare them to enter their professions ready to contribute. It is gratifying to see our peers across higher education increasingly recognize the strength and impact of that work.”

UNE’s improved standing comes as the University continues to expand academic and research opportunities across its campuses and strengthen programs designed to meet evolving workforce needs in Maine and throughout the region.

The U.S. News recognition follows several other recent national accolades for UNE. 

In August, The Princeton Review named UNE among the nation’s best colleges for the 12th consecutive year. In June, the University earned an A- financial grade from Forbes, placing it among the top 20% of institutions nationally for financial strength, stability, and sustainability, while Fitch Ratings this spring upgraded UNE’s issuer default rating to AA-, reflecting “very high” credit quality and a stable outlook.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study-abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible online offerings. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. We are the state’s top provider of health professionals and home to Maine’s only medical and dental colleges, physician assistant program, and pharmacy school, in addition to a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care programs and nationally recognized programs in the marine sciences, the natural and social sciences, business, the humanities, and the arts.