September 23, 2025
Rankings for 2026 also highlight the University’s excellence in social mobility
St. Mary’s University has secured top rankings in the 2026 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges guide. The rankings released today once again affirm St. Mary’s University’s reputation as a premier institution in the West region. Notably, St. Mary’s continues to rank No. 1 in the West for Best Value Schools, offering students a combination of exceptional academic quality and affordability.
“Which colleges and universities offer students the best value? The calculation used here takes into account a school’s academic quality, as indicated by its 2026 U.S. News Best Colleges ranking, and the 2024-2025 net cost of attendance for an out-of-state student who received the average level of need-based scholarship or grant aid,” stated the U.S. News description of the ranking. “The higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal.”
In the Regional Universities (West) category, which stretches from Texas to the West Coast, St. Mary’s tied California State University — Los Angeles for the No. 13 spot out of 118 institutions. The 2026 ranking increased four spots from the prior year, underscoring the University’s academic strength and its long-standing place among top-tier regional universities for more than 30 years. Students are drawn to the personalized attention offered through small class sizes and a student-to-faculty ratio of 13-to-1.
“Continuing to earn the No. 1 Best Value in the West ranking for 2026 underscores St. Mary’s University’s enduring mission to provide an excellent education that is life-changing for our students,” said President Winston Erevelles, Ph.D. “Guided by 173 years of Catholic and Marianist tradition, St. Mary’s remains dedicated to preparing graduates for meaningful vocations and exceptional careers by equipping them to lead with integrity, innovate in their fields and serve their communities with purpose.”
“Continuing to earn the No. 1 Best Value in the West ranking for 2026 underscores St. Mary’s University’s enduring mission to provide an excellent education that is life-changing for our students.”
— President Winston Erevelles
Social Mobility and Support for Veterans
In recent years, U.S. News introduced the Top Performers on Social Mobility ranking to evaluate how well schools serve underrepresented students, particularly those receiving federal Pell Grants. This year, St. Mary’s ranked No. 12 in the West for Social Mobility, reflecting its commitment to supporting students from lower-income households. The University remains first in San Antonio in this category for the seventh consecutive year.
St. Mary’s also ranks No. 20 in the West for Best Colleges for Veterans, reaffirming its dedication to supporting veterans and active-duty service members. As a Yellow Ribbon School, St. Mary’s continues to take part in federal initiatives that aid veterans in funding their education.
Engineering and Law Programs
In undergraduate engineering, St. Mary’s ranked No. 141 in the nation for Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (Non-Doctorate), according to the latest U.S. News & World Report analysis.
The St. Mary’s School of Law programs continue a reputation for national excellence. The School of Law Advocacy Programs ranked in the top 20 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report — tied for the No. 16 spot in the 2025 Best Graduate School Rankings released in March. In September, the Advocacy Program, also known as the National Team, tied for the No. 4 ranking in the nation by the American Bar Association.
St. Mary’s Law also tied for No. 36 on the U.S. News & World Report Best Part-Time Law Programs ranking. The School of Law’s rankings for its part-time program continue to increase since the inception of a highly competitive Online J.D. Program option. The overall ranking for St. Mary’s Law rose five spots to tie for No. 148 in the nation among Best Law Schools. St. Mary’s Law’s international law programs also rose significantly to tie for No. 109 on the Best International Law Programs list.