U.S. News & World Report released its 2027 Best Colleges rankings, and several schools in the Washington, D.C. region experienced notable shifts. While the national picture highlighted Massachusetts Institute of Technology soaring to the No. 1 position among national universities, local institutions saw both gains and losses.
Top of the national list
MIT moved from second place last year to the No. 1 spot, ending a 15‑year stretch at the summit. Princeton University, the long‑standing leader, settled at No. 2.
DC‑area changes
Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., inched up from rank 24 to a two‑way tie at 23. American University slipped from 88 to a five‑way tie at 95, a drop the ranking’s managing editor, LaMont Jones, linked primarily to a decline in Pell‑grant graduation rates.
Howard University improved dramatically, climbing 15 spots from 88 to a seven‑way tie at 73. By contrast, the University of Maryland, College Park fell seven places, moving from 42 to a three‑way tie at 49.
Why the shifts?
Jones noted that ranking movements often reflect a combination of factors, including schools that improve while others decline. For American University, the most significant drop was a 37‑place fall in graduation rates for Pell‑grant recipients, along with declines of 32 places in full‑time faculty metrics and 30 places in overall graduation‑rate performance. The University of Maryland faced a similar 18‑point decline in Pell‑grant graduation rates, despite strong faculty publication and citation scores.
What the rankings mean for families
In an era of growing skepticism about the value of higher education, Jones emphasized that the rankings compile a wealth of data to help families make informed, financially responsible decisions about where to pursue a college degree.
Readers can view the full 2027 rankings and the methodology behind U.S. News’ calculations on the organization’s website.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
