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UMD Ranked Among Top Global Universities by U.S. News
UMD ranked among the top 4% of universities worldwide in U.S. News & World Report’s list of 2026-27 Best Global Universities. (Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle)
June 17, 2026
Contacts
Media Relations: mediainfo@umd.edu
The University of Maryland earned recognition across multiple categories in U.S. News & World Report’s list of 2026-27 Best Global Universities released Tuesday, ranking No. 13 among public U.S. institutions and No. 32 overall in the nation.
UMD also landed among the top 4% of universities worldwide as it placed No. 82 out of the 2,250 schools from more than 100 countries included in the list, which evaluates universities’ academic research and reputations. The rankings are based on 13 factors, including citations, publications, conferences and international collaboration.
Notable in UMD’s showing this year were six academic disciplines in which it advanced from its 2025-26 rankings: chemistry, civil engineering, economics and business, molecular biology and genetics, optics, and psychiatry/psychology.
It also improved in its global research reputation, regional research reputation and academic conferences, important venues for scholarly communication.
UMD programs in the Top 50 globally include:
- Geoscience (No. 24)
- Meteorology and atmospheric sciences (No. 20)
- Physics (No. 28)
- Space science (No. 31)
The Best Global Universities rankings add to other recent recognition UMD has earned from U.S. News. It achieved its highest-ever ranking, No. 16 among public schools, in the 2026 Best Colleges guide, and three dozen of its graduate programs placed in the top 25 in the 2027 Best Graduate Schools list.
About the University of Maryland
The University of Maryland (UMD) is the state's flagship university driven by a community of more than 50,000 fearless Terrapins. As a leading research university and top 20 public institution, UMD is proud to be part of the Association of American Universities. Dedicated to excellence and impact for the public good, the university is propelled by a $1.4 billion joint research enterprise. UMD is the nation’s first Do Good campus, and is consistently ranked for its innovation, research and top-tier academic programs. Located in the National Capital Region, the university offers an unparalleled student experience with federal internship opportunities, hundreds of academic programs and study abroad options, and top-ranked living-learning programs. Spurred by a culture of innovation and creativity, UMD’s faculty are global leaders in their fields and include Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and members of the national academies. For more information about the University of Maryland, College Park, visit umd.edu