Montevallo Ranked as U.S. News & World Report Best Value School in Alabama for Sixth Year in a Row

September 24, 2026

The University of Montevallo is proud to announce its continued ranking as the Best Value School in the state of Alabama in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report rankings.

UM was named the top school in the state of Alabama for Best Value for In-State Students and remained No. 6 in Best Value Schools overall among Regional Universities in the South, maintaining its distinction as the only institution in Alabama to earn a top 10 ranking in this category for six consecutive years. Alabama’s public liberal arts University continues to have an outstanding reputation for the value of a degree among colleges and universities in Alabama and across the Southeast.

“The University of Montevallo takes pride in being recognized for the value it provides to students and their families,” said Dr. Michelle Johnston, UM president. “It’s more important than ever for students to maximize their return on investment in higher education. UM is uniquely prepared to train future leaders with a well-rounded educational experience that provides greater career flexibility and readiness.”

UM is ranked No. 19 in the Top Public Schools – Regional Universities in the South, and No. 37 among schools in the Regional Universities in the South categories. UM is also ranked No. 21 in the Best Colleges for Veterans – Regional Universities in the South category.

“UM has a longstanding tradition of serving our military veterans and their families,” Johnston said. “From navigating financial assistance to customized career services, veterans and their spouses and dependents are strongly supported on the bricks.”

The U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings evaluate institutions on a range of factors that reflect academic quality and student outcomes, including graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, financial value and peer assessments.

These rankings reinforce the University’s Montevallo Means More campaign — more value, more support and more pathways to success for every student. A degree from UM lets employers know a new hire has the critical thinking, workplace adaptability, transferable skills and civic awareness needed to thrive in today’s modern workforce.

UM was also recently recognized “Best of Bama” by Alabama Magazine for being the best school/university in the state.

Learn more about the University of Montevallo and its programs at montevallo.edu. Come discover for yourself why Montevallo means more at Preview Day – an interactive, welcoming event for interested high school and community college students – on Saturday, Nov. 7. Register for Preview Day here.