UW Tacoma recognized in several ‘Best Colleges’ lists for providing value, expanding opportunity

The University of Washington Tacoma has earned recognition in several best colleges rankings, highlighting its commitment to expanding educational opportunity and helping students achieve long-term success.

“Our performance in these lists speaks to the drive of our students and the commitment of our faculty and staff in providing a quality education within reach,” said UW Tacoma Chancellor Sheila Edwards Lange. “As we look ahead, we will remain focused on expanding access to a UW Tacoma education and opening doors to opportunity for our students, their families and their communities.”

UW Tacoma climbs in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 ‘Best Colleges’ rankings

UW Tacoma rose in several categories in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, including notable gains in social mobility, public education and value.

The campus climbed several spots in the Social Mobility category, which measures how successfully colleges enroll and graduate students who receive Pell Grants. 

Together, UW Tacoma and UW Bothell earned the highest rankings among all Washington institutions in the category, underscoring the University of Washington's commitment to making a UW education accessible to all students.

UW Tacoma also moved up one position to No. 4 among Top Public Schools in the West.

These categories are part of U.S. News & World Report’s Regional Universities rankings, which groups institutions by geographic region. UW Tacoma competes in the Western region, which includes public and private universities offering a broad range of undergraduate programs and master’s degrees across 15 states.

UW Tacoma once again named 'best-value' in the state by Washington Monthly

For the third consecutive year, Washington Monthly has recognized UW Tacoma as the top institution in the state for providing a strong return on investment for both students and the local community.

In Washington Monthly’s 2026 College Guide and Rankings, UW Tacoma is ranked No. 1 in Washington as a “Best College for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars.” The recognition reflects The Monthly’s four equally weighted measures of value: access, affordability, student outcomes and community and national service.

#1 in Washington
Best College for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars
— Washington Monthly, 2026

To assess access and affordability, The Monthly considers the number of students receiving Pell Grants, the net price paid by students from families earning less than $75,000 and the median student loan debt of graduates.

In measuring student outcomes, The Monthly looks at student success and career success, including graduation rates across income levels, early-career earnings and the number of graduates who go on to earn Ph.D.s.

Community service is another factor in The Monthly’s rankings and one that aligns with UW Tacoma’s role as a public university rooted in community impact.

College Raptor names UW Tacoma a top "hidden gem"

College Raptor recognized UW Tacoma as the nation's No. 1 "hidden gem" college for improving students' economic futures.

The college planning platform defines "hidden gem" colleges as schools that may be less widely known but perform strongly across measures such as academic quality, class size, enrollment and program offerings. Its methodology includes evaluating key metrics reported by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the previous academic year.

#1 Hidden Gem College
for Improving Students' Economic Futures
— College Raptor, 2026

UW Tacoma also appeared in the top 25 of two additional College Raptor rankings:

• Colleges that improve students' economic futures — No. 1 in Washington
• Top Hidden Gem Colleges in the Far West — No. 5 in Washington

Together, these recognitions reflect UW Tacoma's track record of helping students turn educational opportunity into long-term economic mobility.

The UW Tacoma admissions application for 2027 is now open. Ready to Take the Next Step? Learn more about UW Tacoma and get connected with our Admissions team.