MILLIGAN, Tenn. (Sept. 23, 2025) — U.S. News & World Report released the 2026 “Best Colleges” report today, ranking Milligan University No. 23 among the Best Regional Universities in the South and No. 11 for Best Value.
“Milligan’s strong rankings show the critical importance of quality Christian education,” said Milligan President Dr. Stephen Waers. “Now, more than ever, our world and country need more servant-leaders formed by Milligan’s commitment to scholarship, community and faith.”
Among universities located in Tennessee, U.S. News lists Milligan as the second highest-ranked school in both the Best Value category and the Best Regional Universities in the South list. Milligan is the highest-ranking school in Northeast Tennessee on both lists.
U.S. News evaluates colleges and universities based on their retention and graduation rates, class size, the strength of the faculty, per-student spending, peer universities’ assessments, and the average federal loan debt of graduates. For more information on U.S. News’ rankings, visit usnews.com/colleges.
Milligan’s value remains a top priority as the total cost of a Milligan education continues to be below the national average for private colleges and universities. Additionally, upon graduation, nearly 100 percent of Milligan graduates are employed or in graduate school within one year.
The university continues to prioritize retention with an overall undergraduate retention rate of 83 percent from Fall 2024 to Fall 2025. For more information on Milligan, visit milligan.edu.