September 22, 2026
Rankings for 2027 also highlight the University’s excellence in social mobility and educating military veterans
St. Mary’s University received high rankings in the 2027 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges guide. The rankings released today continue to cement St. Mary’s University’s reputation as a top institution in the West region. St. Mary’s ranked No. 2 in the West for Best Value Schools, offering students a combination of exceptional academic quality and affordability.
“These rankings reflect the momentum we have built through an unwavering commitment to academic excellence and student success,” said St. Mary’s University President Winston Erevelles, Ph.D. “We are proud that our mission of providing a transformative, affordable education in the Catholic and Marianist tradition continues to be recognized nationally.”
In the Regional Universities (West) category, which stretches from Texas to Hawaii and Alaska, St. Mary’s tied schools in California and Utah for the No. 12 spot out of 99 institutions. The 2027 ranking increased one spot from the prior year, reaffirming the University’s academic strength and its continuing place among top-tier regional universities for more than 30 years.
In a ranking of Top Private Colleges — Regional Universities (West) category, St. Mary’s tied for No. 7. Students are drawn to the personalized attention offered through small class sizes and a student-to-faculty ratio of 11-to-1.
“Higher education is an investment in a student’s future, and we’re proud to recognize the institutions that continue to raise the bar for academic excellence,” said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor for education at U.S. News. “The Best Colleges rankings celebrate schools that demonstrate outstanding commitment to student success, providing prospective families with a roadmap to discover high-performing institutions that align with their specific academic, career and personal goals.”
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 increased six spots to tie for the rank No. 6 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 eighth consecutive year.
St. Mary’s also increased seven spots to tie for No. 13 in the West for Best Colleges for Veterans, and first in San Antonio, 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, Business and Law Programs
U.S. News & World Report also ranked St. Mary’s for Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (Non-Doctorate) and Undergraduate Business Programs.
The St. Mary’s University School of Law Advocacy Programs ranked in the top 15 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report — tied for the No. 12 spot in the 2026 Best Graduate School Rankings of Trial Advocacy Programs released in April. This is an increase of four spots from last year’s ranking in this category.
St. Mary’s Law also tied for No. 38 on the Best Part-Time Law Programs ranking. The School of Law’s rankings for its part-time program continue to remain high since the inception of a highly competitive Online J.D. Program option. The overall ranking for St. Mary’s Law is tied for No. 150 in the nation among Best Law Schools.