Every president of every college and university in America believes their institution is special and among the best choices for degree seekers. I am proud to say that, because of you, I can back up that claim with proof.
Our University was again included on the Forbes list of the 500 top colleges in the U.S., one of only four public institutions in the state
to make the 2026 ranking (determined using 2025 data).
MTSU was also among 391 colleges and universities recognized among the nation’s best for 2026 by The Princeton Review, one of the nation’s leading education services companies. Only two public universities in Tennessee—MTSU and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville—made the list. I am proud that MTSU made this prestigious list for the seventh consecutive year. The colleges recognized constitute only about 15% of America’s nearly 2,400 four-year institutions.
In addition, The Wall Street Journal recognized MTSU on its 2026 list of America’s Best Colleges; 2025 was our first year on that list. And MTSU was among four public institutions in the state named to the Colleges of Distinction 2025–26 Best Colleges in the U.S. Rankings such as these elevate MTSU’s profile across the nation and around the world. But what truly matters is what such rankings reveal: our unrelenting commitment to the individual success of each and every student in our True Blue family.
As always, I welcome your feedback and comments. Please contact me at [email protected]. I also invite you to visit my blog at mtsu.edu/president for updates and information from my office.