Fort Lewis College has once again earned high marks in U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Colleges rankings, released this week for the 2026 edition.
ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓÆµ ranked No. 17 among Regional Colleges West and No. 6 among Top Public Schools in the region, affirming the college’s growing reputation for academic excellence, student success, and community impact.
“These rankings highlight what our students, faculty, and alumni already know—ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓÆµ offers a rigorous, high-quality education in a supportive environment that prepares graduates to lead with knowledge and purpose,” said ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓÆµ President Heather J. Shotton. “We’re proud to be recognized among the top public colleges in the West.”
ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓÆµ also earned national recognition in undergraduate engineering, ranking No. 226 among programs at institutions where the highest degree offered is a bachelor’s or master’s. The program’s accreditation by ABET and its reputation among peer institutions continue to elevate its profile.
In addition, ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓÆµ was recognized as No. 6 in Best Colleges for Veterans and No. 31 in Top Performers on Social Mobility.
These rankings add to a growing portfolio of national distinctions for ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓÆµ. The Princeton Review recently named the college one of the Best Regional Colleges in the nation, a list based on real student feedback. In 2025, the Carnegie Classifications designated ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓÆµ as a “Special Focus: Arts and Sciences” institution, a category that includes only 6% of colleges and universities nationwide. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs recognized ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓÆµ as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution for the U.S. Scholar Program.
The Best Colleges rankings evaluate institutions on a range of factors, including academic reputation, faculty resources, graduation rates, and student outcomes. Regional Colleges, such as ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓÆµ, focus on undergraduate education while offering fewer than half their degrees in liberal arts disciplines.