Alcorn State University climbed nine spots to tie for No. 20 among historically Black colleges and universities in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings.
Alcorn surpassed its 2026 position of 29th. This shows better performance in student outcomes and academic quality. Alcorn is the highest ranked HBCU in Mississippi.
“Alcorn State University’s continued climb in the rankings shows the progress being made to provide access to a quality education for our students while improving their social mobility once they graduate,” said Dr. Tracy M. Cook, president. “We will continue to think strategically about how we allocate resources, so our students have the best possible experience while they are here with us, and that it is affordable for them and their families.”
It was also included in a new peer group, the National Liberal Arts Colleges. The new category is a result of a recent change to the Carnegie Classification.
Alcorn is being compared now with the national group of Liberal Arts Colleges.
Whereas last year it was placed in the Regional Universities — South category.
In its first year in this new category, it came tied for 140th place overall, tied for 13th among the Top Public Schools and tied for 66th in terms of social mobility.
Since the group against which it is being assessed has changed, the figures mentioned cannot be directly compared with last year’s rankings of 45th, 21st and 36th respectively in the Regional Universities (South) category.
The ranking of the HBCUs, where historically Black colleges and universities across the country are compared without reference to their Carnegie Classification, provides the most complete indication of Alcorn’s year to year progress.
Alcorn also ranked its nursing program No. 288 (tied) among all nursing programs in this year’s rankings.
The institutions are assessed by U.S. News & World Report on the basis of factors such as academic quality, student achievements, and the resources available to the faculty. These rankings are updated every year and are carefully monitored by students and families who are looking into colleges across the country.
Founded in 1871, Alcorn State University is the nation’s first public, historically Black, land-grant university. Alcorn State offers associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in nearly 50 top-degree programs. Located on over 1700 acres in Lorman, Mississippi, with branches in Vicksburg and Natchez, the University is celebrating 155 years of academic excellence.
The university has gained national recognition in nursing, music, STEM, agricultural research and liberal arts.
Students compete in NCAA Division I athletics and participate in nearly than 80 clubs and organizations, including student run radio and TV stations and the 200 member Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite Marching Band.
