UMass Dartmouth named a top U.S. university by TIME

University ranks No. 3 among Massachusetts public universities and No. 8 among public universities in New England

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth has been named one of the top public universities in Massachusetts and New England in TIME's inaugural ranking of America's Best Colleges.

The University ranked No. 2 among the UMass campuses, and No. 8 among public universities in New England in TIME's America's Best Colleges 2026-2027. UMass Dartmouth also ranked No. 21 among all Massachusetts colleges and universities and was one of 500 institutions recognized nationwide. UMass Dartmouth's placement puts the University in the same tier as other highly regarded national research institutions including the University of Oregon, George Mason University, the University of New Hampshire, West Virginia University and the University of Kentucky.

"This recognition reflects what we are working to accomplish for every UMass Dartmouth student: not simply helping them earn a degree, but preparing them for successful, lifelong careers," said UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Mark A. Fuller. "As a comprehensive national research university, we offer extraordinary opportunities in growing fields, combined with the personal attention and mentoring that distinguish a university of our size. We focus on career readiness early—giving students the skills and experiences to pursue a range of careers and creating strong connections with the employers who are looking for that talent. TIME's emphasis on student outcomes makes this recognition especially meaningful and reflects the extraordinary work happening across our campus."

The results are particularly notable given TIME's emphasis on student outcomes rather than traditional measures of institutional prestige or selectivity. Built entirely on federal data, the ranking is designed to evaluate how effectively colleges serve their students regardless of size, selectivity, or reputation.

TIME and Statista specifically measure "value-added" earnings and graduation outcomes, examining how well institutions perform relative to what would be expected based on the students they enroll. Return on education considers the cost of earning a degree against graduates' subsequent earnings.

TIME and Statista evaluated thousands of eligible colleges and universities across the United States, selecting only 500 institutions for inclusion in the inaugural ranking, evaluating colleges and universities on student outcomes, learning environment, and attractiveness to prospective students.

The ranking places particular emphasis on the results students achieve after choosing a university. Student outcomes account for 75% of an institution's overall score, including measures of graduate earnings, graduation rates, and return on education.

"This recognition reflects what we are working to accomplish for every UMass Dartmouth student: not simply helping them earn a degree, but preparing them for successful, lifelong careers. TIME's emphasis on student outcomes makes this recognition especially meaningful and reflects the extraordinary work happening across our campus."