Moorhead moves up in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Colleges rankings
Minnesota State Moorhead was ranked No. 12 among the Top Public Universities in the Midwest in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Colleges rankings, up two spots from last year.
Moorhead also ranked No. 49 among Best Regional Universities Midwest, according to the report, moving up five spots from the previous year.
“Moving up in both categories affirms that Moorhead is one of the Midwest’s premier universities. Our upward trajectory signals to students, families, and partners that we are deeply committed to academic relevance, student success, and regional engagement,” said Dr. Ok-Hee Lee, Interim Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. “Our momentum is only beginning.”
Minnesota State Moorhead’s recent initiatives indicate that our strategic investments in teaching, learning, and student experiece are yielding positive results. These programs include the Institute of Applied AI, announced last spring; a new Honors College accepting students for the Fall 2026 academic year; and the Moorhead Scholars program, aimed at encouraging the best and brightest students to continue their education in Moorhead.
U.S. News & World Report defines public colleges and universities as operating under the supervision of state governments and are funded, in part, by tax dollars and state subsidies. Public schools range from small liberal arts colleges to large research institutions.
They define regional universities as offering a full range of undergraduate programs with some master’s programs, but few, if any, doctoral programs. Rankings are split into four regions. The Midwest region includes institutions in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.
For more than four decades, U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings have guided millions of students and families in their college search. The 2026 edition evaluates more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities, using up to 17 factors to measure academic quality and graduate success. This transparent and rigorous methodology offers a foundation for navigating the complex landscape of higher education. Learn more about their methodology.