Photo of students forming the letters UR
As part of a tradition during their first week on campus, incoming students form a UR on the intramural fields. This photo is of the Class of 2028, current first-year students.

University of Richmond Ranked Among Top 25 Best Liberal Arts Schools by U.S. News & World Report

Rankings News

September 24, 2024

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND — University of Richmond has been ranked No. 22 among national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report in the 2024–25 Best Colleges guide, released today. UR has been ranked by U.S. News as a Top 25 liberal arts school for eight consecutive years. 

“The University of Richmond is a tight-knit, residential campus, full of remarkable students and extraordinary mentors and teacher-scholars,” said UR President Kevin F. Hallock. “We offer strong mentoring relationships that support the flourishing of our students, we have great momentum, and we are continuing our upward trajectory.”

U.S. News also ranked UR No. 13 for “Most Innovative Schools,” which highlights colleges that are making the most innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology, or facilities.

“Our academic curriculum is both rigorous and rewarding,” said Joan Saab, executive vice president and provost. “We frequently review our academic offerings and have recently added data science and cognitive science programs, among others. We also offer next-level academic services through our new Weinstein Learning Center, a collaborative, state-of-the-art, intellectual gathering space that supports all students in every stage of their academic journey.”

The U.S. News rankings evaluate nearly 1,500 national colleges and universities. The national liberal arts colleges ranking includes schools that emphasize undergraduate education and award at least half of their degrees in the arts and sciences. A variety of factors are considered as part of the ranking methodology, including student-faculty ratio, academic resources, graduation rates, and student outcomes.

The University also received high marks last month from The Princeton Review for academics, campus offerings, and student experience. Among numerous accolades, UR was ranked No. 1 for Best Student Support and Counseling Services, No. 2 for Most Beautiful Campus, and No. 3 for Best-Run Colleges and for Campus Dining. 

In July, Richmond was included in the 2025 edition of The Fiske Guide to Colleges, a leading college guidebook, noting that UR students enjoy intellectual rigor with small class sizes and close relationships with faculty. 

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