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Rankings and Accolades

Providing a personal, practical, and pertinent education that is a proven investment in your future is what we do at the University of Mount Union. The success and satisfaction of our students, alumni, and parents clearly illustrate that we are making good on this promise. And others agree about the return on investment on a Mount Union education. For 31 consecutive years, Mount Union has been ranked as a top university by U.S. News & World Report. In addition, the University also has been recently cited by Forbes, Washington Monthly, and The Princeton Review’s Green Guide, in addition to garnering other national recognitions.

    Rankings and Accolades

    1. Best Colleges

      Colleges of Distinction

      The University of Mount Union has been named one of the nation’s Colleges of Distinction. The annual process of selecting the nation’s Colleges of Distinction requires that institutions adhere to the “four distinctions” — engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community, and successful outcomes. This process also includes a review of each institution’s freshman experience, general education program, strategic plan, alumni success, satisfaction measures, and more.

      U.S. News and World Report

      This year, U.S. News and World Report ranked Mount Union tied for 32nd among regional universities in the Midwest, which includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Also, Mount Union is 18th among Midwest Regional Universities for Best Value rankings and third in Ohio. This is the 33rd consecutive year that Mount Union has appeared in this annual listing of the best colleges and universities.

      Washington Monthly

      Mount Union was ranked 342nd in the nation and 11th in Ohio among top master's universities in Washington Monthly’s 2022 rankings. According to Washington Monthly's website, schools in this category are ranked based upon their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), research (producing cutting-edge scholarship), and service (encouraging students to give something back to their country).


      The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education 

      The University of Mount Union has been ranked among the top third colleges and universities nationally included in the The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings. Among the nearly 1,000 institutions included in the ranking, Mount Union was ranked in the Top 50%.

      Niche

      Niche ranked Mount Union in the top 24% in the nation and 11th in Ohio among the Best Small Colleges. Niche also cited Mount Union as a Top Private University in America and among the Best Colleges in America.


      Best Colleges.com

      Mount Union has been ranked 13th in the nation for the top integrative studies program. 

    2. Academic Programs

      US News and World Report

      Mount Union has been ranked number one in Ohio for online master’s in education (M.Ed.) programs by U.S. News and World Report

      Niche

      Business
      Niche ranked Mount Union in the top 24% in the nation and 13th in Ohio among Best Colleges for Business.

      Education
      Niche ranked Mount Union in the top 22% in the nation and 13th in Ohio among Best Colleges for Education

      Sport Business
      Niche ranked Mount Union as one of the Top 100 Best Colleges for Sport Management in America (#85) and 7th in Ohio.

       
      Nursing Schools Almanac

      Nursing
      Ranked as the top nursing program in Ohio for 2022 by Nursing Schools Almanac.

       

      Bachelor's Degree Center

      Mount Union's sport business program has been ranked #1 in Ohio and #10 in the nation by Bachelor's Degree Center.

    3. Return on Investment

      Money Magazine

      Mount Union has been rated as one of 15 colleges in Ohio with a four-star rating, ranking us as one of the "Best Colleges in America" by Money Magazine in 2023.

      US News and World Report

      Mount Union has been ranked #18 for Best Value among Midwest Regional Universities by US News and World Report

      Washington Monthly

      Mount Union was ranked in Washington Monthly’s 2022 “Best Bang for the Buck” listing in the Midwest category. According to the organization’s website, the rating was based on “net” (not sticker) price, how well institutions do graduating the students they admit, and whether those students earn enough, after graduation, to pay off their college loans.

      Educate to Career

      Mount Union has been ranked for economic value by Educate to Career in its 2020 ETC College Rankings Index. This ranking quantifies and compares colleges’ and universities’ records for improving the labor market outcomes for students.

    4. Sustainability

      Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges

      The University has been included in the Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges for seven consecutive years.

      STARS

      Mount Union received a silver rating from the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). 

      Arbor Day Foundation

      The University has been cited for 12 consecutive years with Tree Campus USA recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of the institution’s commitment to effective community forestry management. 

      Sierra Club

      Mount Union has been ranked among the most environmentally-sustainable institutions in the nation in the Sierra Club’s 2021 Cool Schools listing. 

    5. Athletics

      Learfield Sports Directors Cup

      Mount Union finished 20th in the nation in the final 2022-2023 Learfield Sports Directors Cup NCAA Division III standings and was the highest-ranked institution in the OAC.

      Niche

      Mount Union was ranked in the top 7% in the nation and 2nd in Ohio among Best Colleges for Athletics. The institution was also ranked in the top 19% in the nation and 9th in Ohio among Best Colleges for Student Athletes.

    6. Campus Life

      Niche 

      Greek Life
      Niche ranked Mount Union 10th in Ohio among Best Greek Life Colleges.

      Dining Services
      Niche ranked Mount Union in the top 24% in the nation and 11th in Ohio among institutions with the Best College Food.

      Student Life
      Niche ranked Mount Union in the top 18% in the nation and 10th in Ohio among Colleges with Best Student Life.

      Residence Halls
      Niche ranked Mount Union in the top 12% in the nation and 6th in Ohio among institutions with the Best College Dorms.

      Campus
      Niche ranked Mount Union in the top 13% in the nation and 9th in Ohio among institutions with the Best College Campuses.


      Background Check.org

      Mount Union has been ranked among the Safest Schools in Ohio, a listing produced by Background Checks.org

      Washington Monthly

      Mount Union was named one of 204 institutions across the country as a “Best College for Student Voting" in the publication's 2021 listing.

    7. Other

      Forbes

      Financial Health 
      In Forbes’ 2017 review of the financial health of private not-for-profit colleges, Mount Union earned a B grade based on nine components in two categories – balance sheet strength and operational soundness – plus certain other factors including admission yield, percent of freshmen receiving institutional grants, and instruction expenses per student.

      Grateful Graduates Index
      Mount Union ranked 190 in the nation in Forbes’ Grateful Graduates Index, which ranks private, not-for-profit colleges with more than 1,000 students by analyzing media private donations and gifts per student over 10 years.

      Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society
      Mount Union was named to the 2020 and 2021 Transfer Honor Roll by the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society for its dynamic pathways to support transfer students.