U.S. News and World Report again ranks Northwest among top schools in Midwest

Northwest Missouri State University is included on U.S. News and World Report’s list of “2027 Best Colleges,” which has ranked the institution among the top 25 public regional universities in the Midwest for the third time in the last four years.

Northwest came in at No. 22 on the list of public regional universities in the Midwest, up from its position at No. 30 a year ago. Among all regional universities in the Midwest, U.S. News ranks Northwest at No. 78.

Additionally, Northwest – which is consistently designated as a Military Friendly School – is No. 35 among regional universities in the Midwest and third among Missouri public institutions on U.S. News’s list of “Best Colleges for Veterans.”

U.S. News evaluated nearly 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities on measures that reflect academic quality and graduate outcomes. Each indicator is assigned a weight, and institutions are ranked based on their overall scores.

The publication defines regional universities as those that offer a broad scope of undergraduate degrees and some master’s degree programs but few, if any, doctoral programs. The Midwest region includes all public and private universities in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin as well as Missouri.

Students gathered in August at the Memorial Bell Tower on the Northwest campus for a block party hosted by the University's Center for Engagement and Community Connection. (Photo by Lilly Cook | Northwest Missouri State University)

About Northwest Missouri State University

Northwest is a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university that offers a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs on its Maryville campus and through Northwest Online.

Student participate in a future trading course offers in Northwest's School of Agricultural Sciences. (Photo by Maria Nino-Elliott/Northwest Missouri State University)

Founded in 1905, Northwest boasts a high retention rate and a graduation rate in the 95th percentile among its peers. Furthermore, the University is a national model for student success and career placement, with nearly 100 percent of its graduates securing employment or continuing their education within six months of completing a degree at Northwest, according to the most recent data. 

Northwest also places a high emphasis on profession-based learning to help graduates get a jumpstart on their careers while maintaining competitive tuition rates and generous financial assistance to help minimize the financial barriers students may face when pursuing a college degree.

Students have opportunities to build their résumés with experiences on campus in nearly every area of study, including the Horace Mann Laboratory School, National Public Radio affiliate KXCV, the R.T. Wright Farm, Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area,  a partnership with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency or Knacktive, a student-driven integrated digital marketing communications agency. In conjunction with its emergency and disaster management program, Northwest organizes and hosts Missouri Hope, an annual mass casualty training exercise that attracts first responders and emergency workers from throughout the nation.

The University’s vibrant and diverse learning community also offers more than 150 student organizations, and textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, saving students an estimated $6,900 over four years. Northwest offers 1,200 student employment positions, allowing students to build professional skills through its internationally benchmarked student employment program. 

For more information about Northwest and its performance, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/aboutus/facts/.