University of Richmond Moves into Top 20 in Latest U.S. News Rankings

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND – U.S. News & World Report has ranked the University of Richmond #18 overall among national liberal arts colleges in the 2022–23 Best Colleges guide, released today. This ranking is UR’s highest from U.S. News.

Richmond moved into the top 20 from a #22 overall ranking for both 2021–22 and 2020–21. UR was ranked #32 in 2016.

“The University of Richmond’s swift ascent in U.S. News rankings affirms the great work happening in every corner of campus and the incredible pride and dedication among our Spider community. I am confident that we are on a trajectory to be known, unquestionably, as the best small university in the world,” said UR President Kevin F. Hallock.

The U.S. News national liberal arts colleges ranking includes schools that emphasize undergraduate education and award at least half of their degrees in the liberal arts fields of study. A variety of factors are considered as part of the ranking methodology, including student-faculty ratio, tuition and financial aid policies, academic majors offered, and campus life.

UR climbed one spot from last year to reach #15 on the “Most Innovative Schools” list. This category highlights colleges that are making the most innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology, or facilities. The University recently announced new academic programming for the 2022–23 academic year and in 2021 opened the Well-Being Center, a collaborative, high-impact environment to support student learning and well-being.

The University also received high marks last month from The Princeton Review for academics and student experience. UR landed in the top 10 for classroom experience, quality of life, and student support. In July, Richmond was included in the 2023 edition of The Fiske Guide to Colleges, a leading college guidebook, that profiles the “best and most interesting” colleges in the U.S., Canada, and the UK.