Augustana has been ranked as the No. 5 Regional University in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best College Rankings — viewed as the gold standard in college rankings lists. According to U.S. News & World Report, these rankings “emphasize student outcomes, academic resources and reputation” and “empower parents, students and lifelong learners to discover, compare and connect with institutions that match their unique goals.”
“Earning a place among the top regional universities reaffirms what we see on campus every day: an Augustana education is an exceptional investment. While these rankings reflect our strong academic reputation, our sustained enrollment momentum and record retention rate provides the clearest proof that we are delivering on our mission and preparing students for enduring success,” said Augustana Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management Adam Heinitz ‘99.
U.S. News & World Report also ranked Augustana No. 6 in Best Value across the region. The value of an Augustana education is evident as 98% of its Class of 2025 graduates achieved a positive career outcome, and many of these graduates chose to continue their education with 22% enrolled in graduate school or professional programs. Upon graduation, recent alumni employed full time reported earning a median income of $55,000.
“At Augustana, we are dedicated to both supporting students throughout their college experience and preparing them for a future where they contribute to the greater good. Our graduates leave Augustana prepared to take their next step with confidence, whether that means beginning a meaningful career, pursuing graduate or professional education or finding new ways to contribute to their communities. These outcomes demonstrate that an Augustana education provides lasting value well beyond graduation,” said Director of the Augustana Student Success Center Mary Toso ‘90.
In its 43rd edition, U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings provide a data-driven comparison of more than 1,700 colleges and universities — using up to 17 measures of academic quality and graduate success. U.S. News relies on schools to report their data accurately and also assesses the integrity of all submissions. A top academic official from each school must certify the accuracy of the data.
To compare each school fairly, U.S. News groups schools into 10 categories using the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education's classifications and research designations — the accepted standard in U.S. higher education.
How Augustana Ranks in Other Publications
- The Princeton Review recently ranked AU as one of its 2027 Best Regional Colleges.
- Niche ranked Augustana among the 2027 Best Colleges in South Dakota — giving the university a grade A- or above in athletics, diversity, future readiness and student life. Niche also ranked AU in the Top 25 for Christian Colleges in America and the No. 1 College in South Dakota in the fields of biology and education, as well as student life.
- AU has been designated a 2026-27 Silver Military Friendly ® School.
- Augustana has been named a 2027 Hidden Gem College in the U.S. and 2027 Hidden Gem in the Plains Region by College Raptor.
- WalletHub ranked Augustana as one of its 2026 Best Universities — the top university in South Dakota and No. 118 out of more than 700 universities nationwide, as well as No. 17 in the Midwest.
For more rankings related to Augustana University, visit augie.edu/rankings.