The University of Tennessee at Martin has again earned a spot in the Regional Universities South category of the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, which were released Sept. 23. The university is tied for the second year at 20th place in the new rankings, which include 135 regional southern universities. Colleges and universities are evaluated according to 17 ranking factors, including graduation, retention and post-graduation earning rates.
In other U.S. News rankings in the Regional Universities South category, UT Martin is tied for 9th place in the Top Public Schools ranking and is tied for 8th place in the Best Colleges for Veterans ranking. UT Martin ranked alone in 21st place in the Best Value Schools category ranking.
“We’re pleased that UT Martin remains one of the top regional and public-regional universities in the South,” said Dr. Yancy Freeman, university chancellor. “Rankings tell only part of the story for any college or university, but prospective students and their families sometimes use rankings as one measure of quality. UT Martin remains an excellent value among higher-education institutions.”
In the online programs category, UT Martin tied for 46th place in Best Online MBA Programs, tied for 28th place in Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans, tied for 64th place in Best Online Master’s in Criminal Justice Programs, and tied for 180th place in Best Online Master’s in Education Programs. More than 1,800 online programs were surveyed by U.S. News.
These rankings follow an August announcement that UT Martin was listed as a Best Regional College by The Princeton Review for the 23rd year in a row. The university was also named earlier this year as a 2025-2026 Military Friendly School by Viqtory.
UT Martin tied its second-highest fall enrollment total in history as 8,101 students are enrolled for the fall 2025 semester at its main campus and six regional centers in Jackson, Parsons, Ripley, Selmer, Somerville and Springfield in Middle Tennessee.
UT Martin is a primary regional campus in the University of Tennessee System offering 23 undergraduate degree programs that include 142 specialized concentrations and eight graduate degrees featuring 30 specialized concentrations. In addition to the main campus and six regional centers, UT Martin Online offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees, including the online Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree for working adults. Learn more at www.utm.edu.
