U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankings once again highlight Fairfield University among the nation’s top schools. Among nationally ranked private institutions, Fairfield placed in the Top 75.
— an announcement from Fairfield University
The University also earned a spot in the Top 25 for Undergraduate Teaching – National Universities. The University was ranked No. 139 (tied with another university) overall in the National University category.
Photo from Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Fairfield University’s Charles F. Dolan School of Business excelled in specialized areas once again this year, achieving notable rankings in the following undergraduate business programs:
• Business Analytics: No. 14 (tied)
• Finance: No. 14
• Marketing: No. 15
• Accounting: No 17 (tied)
• Management: No. 17
And There’s More
Additional specialty rankings for Fairfield’s Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies include Best Undergraduate Nursing: No. 74 (tied), up 22 spots from last year.
Fairfield University was also recently recognized by LinkedIn, which named Fairfield one of its Top Colleges for 2025, placing it among the top 30 institutions nationwide that best prepare graduates for sustained career growth, based on factors such as job placement, alumni networks, internships and leadership advancement.
The University has been selected as one of the nation’s top “Dream Schools” in the book Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You by New York Times bestselling author Jeffrey Selingo — recognized for strong outcomes, accessible admissions and engaging student experiences.
The book highlights 75 colleges and universities that offer strong career prospects, hands-on learning, and a sense of belonging.
About the U.S. News Rankings
U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings evaluated more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities using up to 17 key measures of academic quality for National Universities including: Student Outcomes (graduation rates, retention, and post-graduation earnings), Peer Assessment (surveys of college presidents, provosts, and admissions deans), Faculty Resources (faculty salaries, student-faculty ratio, share of full-time faculty and quality instruction), Financial Resources per student and Faculty Research outputs (for doctoral-granting institutions) among others.
The Best Undergraduate Teaching rankings are based solely on a peer-assessment survey in which college presidents, provosts, and admissions deans nominate up to 15 schools in their Best Colleges category for excellence in undergraduate instruction. To be included in the list, a school must receive at least seven nominations.