Colby-Sawyer College has been ranked No. 1 in the Best Undergraduate Teaching - Regional Colleges (North) category by U.S. News & World Report. This is the fourth time it has earned a No. 1 ranking in the category, and the fifth time it has placed in the top two, since 2022.

The 2027 edition of the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, released today, evaluates more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities, using up to 17 factors to measure academic quality and graduate success.

U.S. News also recognized excellence with rankings for Colby-Sawyer in additional categories:

• No. 7 in Best Value Schools - Regional Colleges (North)
• No. 10 in Top Private Colleges - Regional Colleges (North)
• No. 17 in Regional Colleges (North)

“Earning the top ranking in Best Undergraduate Teaching is a testament to the dedication and expertise of Colby-Sawyer’s faculty and the quality of our academic programs,” Colby-Sawyer College President Dean McCurdy said. “Our students receive the knowledge, skills and support necessary for professional success, and they graduate prepared enter the workforce and make a difference in their communities.”

U.S. News publishes the Best Colleges rankings each year to provide prospective students and their families with the comparative merits of the undergraduate programs at America’s colleges and universities. The rankings, which date back to 1983, offer detailed information of the institutions and data on factors such as graduation rates and post-graduate earnings.

“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.”

With a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of 19, Colby-Sawyer delivers undergraduate programs in nursing and health sciences, arts and humanities, social sciences, business and sport management, and sciences. It also offers graduate programs in nursing, business administration, exercise science and social work. Through small, interactive classes, field experience opportunities, clinicals and required Capstone projects, students at Colby-Sawyer work closely with faculty members as they pursue programs that blend professional preparation with the liberal arts.