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The University of Cincinnati fell 21 places to a tie at No. 179 among National Universities in the 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings. Northern Kentucky University climbed 19 spots to No. 365, while Xavier University remained at No. 208. UC also ranked No. 3 nationally for co-ops and internships and reported gains in several undergraduate programs.
The latest U.S. News college rankings show mixed results for Cincinnati-area universities, with the University of Cincinnati falling in the national rankings while Northern Kentucky University moved up.
UC tied for No. 179 among National Universities in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.
That was 21 spots lower than its position in the previous rankings.
Northern Kentucky University, meanwhile, climbed 19 places to a tie at No. 365 among National Universities.
UC falls in overall ranking but rises in co-ops
The University of Cincinnati’s overall National Universities ranking was shared with seven other schools, including the University of Louisville.
Despite the decline in its overall position, UC received a higher ranking for its cooperative education and internship opportunities.
UC ranked No. 3 nationally for co-ops and internships in the 2027 rankings, up from No. 4 in 2026 and No. 5 in 2025. The university said it was also the No. 1 public university in that category and has remained in the top five for eight consecutive years.
UC also reported gains in several undergraduate program categories. Its undergraduate business program ranked No. 72, up from No. 88, while computer science ranked No. 110, compared with No. 154 the previous year. Psychology moved to No. 207 from No. 213.
The university said its students earned $99.5 million through paid co-ops during the 2025-26 academic year, with average earnings exceeding $13,000 per student per semester.
Xavier and NKU rankings
Xavier University tied for No. 208 among National Universities, with 10 other schools. Its position remained unchanged from the previous ranking.
NKU recorded one of the larger movements among the Cincinnati-area schools included in the rankings.
The Highland Heights university climbed 19 places to a 10-way tie at No. 365 among National Universities.
The movement puts NKU alongside other universities in the same national ranking group, although U.S. News rankings are based on multiple measures and changes from year to year do not necessarily represent a corresponding change in a school’s academic programs.
Other Ohio and regional universities
Several other universities commonly considered by students in the Cincinnati region also appeared in the 2027 National Universities rankings.
Miami University tied for No. 133, while the University of Dayton tied for No. 121.
Ohio State University tied for No. 44, and Indiana University Bloomington tied for No. 73.
Mount St. Joseph University was ranked separately among Regional Universities in the Midwest, tying for No. 110.
The distinction is important because National Universities and Regional Universities are separate U.S. News ranking categories.
Why college rankings can move so much
A change in a university’s overall U.S. News ranking does not necessarily mean its academic programs or student experience changed by the same amount.
The U.S. News Best Colleges rankings combine multiple measures to determine each school’s position. Those measures include factors such as graduation and retention rates, undergraduate academic reputation, faculty resources, financial resources and social mobility.
Year-to-year changes can also reflect changes in the underlying data and methodology used by U.S. News.
That means a 21-place change for UC should be viewed in the context of the individual factors behind the ranking rather than as a single measure of the university’s academic performance.
UC’s No. 3 co-op ranking tells a different story
While UC fell in the overall National Universities ranking, the university continued to perform strongly in a category closely associated with its Cincinnati-based education model.
UC ranked No. 3 nationally for co-ops and internships in the 2027 U.S. News rankings, moving up from No. 4 the previous year.
UC also ranked No. 1 among public universities in the category. The university said the ranking marks its eighth consecutive year in the national top five for co-ops and internships.
The university reported that students earned $99.5 million through paid co-ops during the 2025-26 academic year, with average earnings of more than $13,000 per student per semester.
UC also moved up in several undergraduate program rankings, including business and computer science.
How Cincinnati-area schools ranked
Here is how the Cincinnati-area universities highlighted in the 2027 rankings compared within their respective U.S. News categories:
| University | 2027 U.S. News ranking | Change from previous ranking |
| University of Cincinnati | No. 179, National Universities | Down 21 |
| Xavier University | No. 208, National Universities | No change |
| Northern Kentucky University | No. 365, National Universities | Up 19 |
| Miami University | No. 133, National Universities | — |
| University of Dayton | No. 121, National Universities | — |
| Ohio State University | No. 44, National Universities | — |
| Indiana University Bloomington | No. 73, National Universities | — |
| Mount St. Joseph University | No. 110, Regional Universities – Midwest | — |
The categories are important when comparing the schools. Mount St. Joseph University, for example, is ranked among Regional Universities in the Midwest, while UC, Xavier and NKU are included in the National Universities category.
What the U.S. News ranking measures
The U.S. News rankings are based on a combination of measures rather than a single test or academic indicator.
The methodology considers factors related to student outcomes, faculty resources, academic reputation, financial resources and other characteristics of higher education institutions.
As a result, the overall ranking does not necessarily reflect the strengths of every individual academic program.
For students considering Cincinnati-area colleges, factors such as a university’s specific major, cost, financial aid, graduation outcomes, internships and co-op opportunities can provide additional context alongside the overall U.S. News position.
FAQs
What is UC known for in the U.S. News rankings?
UC’s cooperative education and internship program was ranked No. 3 nationally and No. 1 among public universities for 2027. The university said it has remained in the top five for eight consecutive years.
Does a university’s overall U.S. News ranking show the quality of every program?
No. U.S. News publishes separate rankings for universities, individual undergraduate programs and categories such as co-ops and internships. A school’s overall position therefore may differ substantially from the ranking of a particular program or student experience.
Which Cincinnati-area university moved up the most?
Northern Kentucky University recorded a 19-place increase among the schools highlighted in the rankings. NKU moved to a tie at No. 365 among National Universities.
