Time Magazine Ranks UMD Among Top 25 U.S. Public Universities

Time magazine counts the University of Maryland among the top 25 public universities in the nation in a new ranking.

The magazine partnered with data research firm Statista on the inaugural edition of America’s Best Colleges of 2026-2027 to highlight U.S. institutions that provide the best value for their students. It ranked the colleges that excel at student outcomes, learning environment and attractiveness to students, using federal data on institutional characteristics, admissions, enrollment, graduation rates and graduate earnings. 

Of the 500 universities considered, UMD ranked No. 24 among public institutions; it scored among the top 20 public schools in the category of student outcomes, which is based on graduation rates and earnings and return on investment.

“As jobs have become more technological, job markets have become more competitive, and the costs of tuition have risen, college students are increasingly considering the ROI of their education, or how efficiently it can be used to acquire a high-paying job post-grad,” the magazine wrote.