U.S. News & World Report Rankings 2026
SUMMARY
Purdue is once again the No. 1 public university in Indiana, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Colleges rankings. For the third consecutive year, Purdue also stands as the state’s only public institution among the nation’s top 50, tied at No. 46 overall. Purdue achieved its highest-ever placement in the co-op and internship category, ranking No. 6 overall and continuing a seven-year streak as a top three public.
In program-specific rankings, Purdue had 20 undergraduate programs placed in the nation’s top 20. The College of Engineering maintained its No. 8 overall ranking, with nine departments in the national top 10, including industrial engineering (No. 2), aeronautics and astronautics (No. 3), and civil engineering (No. 3). The Department of Computer Science also earned strong recognition, with a No. 16 overall ranking and several specialties in the top 20, including cybersecurity (No. 4). The Mitch Daniels School of Business rose three spots to No. 24 overall, with five programs ranked among the top 20, led by operations management (No. 4) and supply chain management/logistics (No. 9).
These rankings highlight Purdue’s sustained reputation for excellence, the growing strength of its STEM and business disciplines, and the measurable value of a Purdue education. Content should emphasize persistence, innovation and pride in Purdue’s role as a national leader. This is evergreen material suitable for use year-round, and it’s especially impactful during recruitment cycles, where the recognition of academic quality, career readiness and student success can resonate strongly with prospective students and families.
RESOURCES INCLUDE
- Social post copy
- Social graphics
- Press release
LINKS AND UTM PARAMETERS
When linking to Purdue websites from social platforms or emails, it is recommended that UTM parameters be added to the URL in order to provide reporting on the activity. The Purdue Marketing and Communications campaign URL builder allows you to easily configure these links and even request shortened Purdue-branded links.
- UTM Campaign: 2026_USNWR
- UTM Medium: Social
- UTM Source: Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, email newsletter name, etc.
AVAILABLE ASSETS
The following assets are available for download and use.
NOTE: If InDesign files are needed for any of these assets, please complete the marketing request form.
SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDANCE
POSTING TIPS
- Keep posts short and direct
- Link all posts back to the story
- Include photos or videos
- Use short URLS
SUGGESTED SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
@usnewsandworldreport’s annual rankings are built on 17 key measures of academic quality and student success, including graduation rates and career outcomes. 🎓
By those measures, Purdue has once again risen to the top as the No. 1 public university in Indiana and a top 20 U.S. public. Learn more about the 2026 rankings: [link]
X
From internships to innovation, Purdue is ranked among the best — again. Read the full @USNews report to see the broad reach of Purdue’s impact. 👇
At Purdue, persistence meets opportunity every day. 💪💡
The 2026 @usnews rankings name us the No. 1 public university in Indiana and No. 3 among publics nationally for co-op and internship opportunities.
See the full story and where our programs placed: 🔗 in bio. 👆
Purdue is proud to again lead Indiana as the No. 1 public university in @us-news-and-world-report’s 2026 rankings.
Our place among the nation’s best reflects the quality of our undergraduate programs, the strength of our experiential learning and the career outcomes of our graduates.
See the full release here: [link]