Mercer University has received high rankings in several categories in the latest U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges issue, released today.
The university was ranked No. 38 on the Best Value list, which considers both academic quality and the net cost of attendance for students who receive average need-based financial aid.
Mercer also achieved recognition for its undergraduate teaching, ranking No. 58 nationally. The College of Nursing’s undergraduate program made a significant jump to No. 74, moving up 56 spots from the previous year. This program recently expanded its four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree to be available on both the Macon and Atlanta campuses. Mercer’s nursing program is noted as the longest-established in Georgia and is recognized for its excellence in scholarship, leadership, education, clinical practice, and service.
The School of Engineering was ranked No. 46 among undergraduate engineering programs that offer bachelor’s or master’s degrees as their highest credential. This ranking is based on surveys conducted with engineering deans and senior faculty at accredited institutions.
Additionally, Mercer’s undergraduate business and psychology programs were highly ranked, and the university was again listed among the Best Colleges for Veterans.
The U.S. News & World Report evaluated more than 1,700 colleges and universities across up to 17 factors including academic quality and graduate success for its 2026 rankings. National universities are assessed based on criteria such as peer assessment, freshman retention rates, graduation rates, class size, student-faculty ratio, academic profile of entering students, and acceptance rate.
According to U.S. News & World Report: “Schools in the national universities category offer a full range of undergraduate majors, plus master’s and doctoral programs and are committed to producing groundbreaking research.”
More information about these rankings can be found at usnews.com/colleges.
