MILLIGAN, Tenn. (Sept. 22, 2026) — U.S. News & World Report released the 2027 “Best Colleges” report today, and Milligan University emerged as the top ranked school in Northeast Tennessee.
U.S. News ranked Milligan University No. 37 among the Best Regional Universities in the South, No. 13 for Best Value in the South and No. 19 for Top Private Regional Universities in the South.
U.S. News notes that colleges or universities ranked in the top 44 within each category are deemed “excellent” due to the high number of colleges and universities in the United States.
“Today’s strong rankings reflect the vital importance of Milligan’s mission of preparing servant leaders, which has guided the university for 160 years,” said Milligan President Dr. Stephen Waers. “Milligan’s distinct approach to a liberal arts education rooted in Christ prepares students to think critically, value service and engage with the world’s complex problems.”
Among private universities in Tennessee, Milligan emerged as the third highest-ranked university by U.S. News. Additionally, Milligan was ranked as the fourth best value among private or public regional universities in Tennessee.
Colleges and universities are evaluated based on their retention and graduation rates, class size, the strength of the faculty, per-student spending, peer universities’ assessments, and the average federal loan debt of graduates. For more information on U.S. News’ rankings, visit usnews.com/colleges.
Milligan’s value remains a top priority as the total cost of a Milligan education continues to be below the national average for private colleges and universities. Additionally, upon graduation, nearly 100% of Milligan graduates are employed or in graduate school within one year.
The university continues to prioritize retention with an overall undergraduate retention rate of 85% from Fall 2025 to Fall 2026, far exceeding the national average. Milligan’s current students hail from 42 states and 36 countries, and international students represent 8% of the student body.
For more information on Milligan, visit milligan.edu.