For third consecutive year, The Citadel named #1 Regional University in the South by U.S. News & World Report
September 22, 2026
For the third year in a row, The Citadel has been ranked the #1 Regional University in the South.
The Military College of South Carolina leads the category, which includes more than 150 public and private institutions from 12 states.
U.S. News & World Report — which released their annual rankings Tuesday, Sept. 22. — also named The Citadel as the #1 Best Public University in the South for the 16th consecutive time.
“This ranking is a credit to our exceptional faculty and staff who work tirelessly to prepare our cadets and students for their next steps after graduation,” said The Citadel President Gen. Frank McKenzie, USMC (Ret.), ’79. “Our unique educational model continues to successfully develop principled leaders and citizen-soldiers in a way that is recognized around the country.”
It was not the only recognition the college received.
Other notable rankings earned by The Citadel include:
#1 Regional University in the South
#1 Best Public University in the South
#1 Best Colleges for Veterans – Regional Universities (South)
#2 Best Value for In-State Students – Regional Universities (South)
#9 Undergraduate Teaching – Regional Universities (South)
#9 Best Value – Regional Universities (South)
#15 (tied) Best Undergraduate Engineering, nationwide (non-doctoral)
For more information, click here: https://today.citadel.edu/for-the-third-consecutive-year-the-citadel-named-1-regional-university-in-the-south-by-u-s-news-world-report/(opens in new tab)
