SXU Ranks on 2026 List of Best Colleges
Saint Xavier University (SXU) continues to receive annual accolades from U.S. News & World Report. In the 2026 edition, released September 23, SXU was named a "Best Value School," a "Best Regional University" and one of the top performers for "Social Mobility" in the Midwest.
Saint Xavier ranks among the overall 2026 Best Colleges, appearing in the top 10 in Illinois. For the "Best Colleges" list, U.S. News & World Report considers student outcomes, graduation and retention rates, innovative teaching and institutional health, faculty research and resources, and financial resources.
SXU nationally ranks among "Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs" and appears in the top 5 in Illinois. All institutions ranked must be accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and be a regionally-accredited institution that awards at least 35 BSN degrees.
For the seventh year, SXU has been named a top performer in "Social Mobility," ranking within the top 5 in Illinois. Ranking is determined by the extent to which a college or university enrolls larger proportions of economically disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants and graduates them into profitable careers.
For the tenth consecutive year, SXU has been identified as a "Best Value School" in the Midwest among regional universities. SXU is ranked No. 2 Best Value in Illinois. Knowing which institutions can provide exemplary education at the right price is incredibly important for beginning students. While considering these rankings, U.S. News & World Report evaluates a school's academic quality and the net cost of attendance for a student. The higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the greater the value.
SXU also ranks highly in the greater Midwest for economic diversity, coming in at No. 5 in the region. U.S. News selects schools with a large percentage of undergraduate students receiving federal Pell Grants. Students from households that earn less than $50,000 annually typically qualify for Pell.
As a Military Friendly® school and Yellow Ribbon institution, Saint Xavier is proud to serve its student-veterans with access to resources and services to help them transition into the classroom and succeed in completing their degree. SXU ranks No. 4 in Illinois as a "Best College for Veterans."
For the second time, SXU was nationally ranked for "Best Undergraduate Computer Science Programs." To be considered, a program must either have been accredited by ABET or have recently awarded 20 or more bachelor's degrees in computer science.
SXU was nationally ranked for the fourth year in a row for "Best Undergraduate Business Programs" and appears within the top 15 in Illinois. All institutions ranked are AACSB-accredited and are based on having the best programs in business specialty areas such as accounting, finance, marketing and management. SXU's Graham School of Management (GSM) provides a comprehensive, innovative curriculum matched with experimental learning to prepare students to serve as leaders in business.
SXU was ranked for the third year for "Best Undergraduate Psychology Programs." The rankings are based solely on the judgments of department chairs and faculty members at psychology departments at institutions around the country who participated in a peer assessment survey.
Learn more about SXU's undergraduate programs, graduate programs and degree completion programs. For more information about SXU's 2026 university rankings, visit U.S. News & World Report's website.