On Tuesday, Sept. 22, U.S. News and World Report released their 2027 college and university rankings, placing Brandeis in a tie for 59th place of 422 institutions for national universities. Notably, the University moved up 10 spots in the rankings and tied for 36th place among top private schools. 

The rise in rankings has largely been attributed to the University’s plan to reinvent the liberal arts, spearheaded by president Arthur Levine ’70, which includes the creation of four new schools. The University was also commended for its commitment to innovation and ranked 19th for Most Innovative Schools. Brandeis was also highlighted for its strength in undergraduate research and rose to 40th place in undergraduate teaching. 

Key ranking factors include student outcomes, which account for 52% of a school’s final outcome. Additionally, peer assessment accounts for 20% of a school’s final grade and is measured using data from provosts, deans, university presidents and other top administrators in statistical surveys collected by U.S. News. 

Contrastingly, Brandeis was ranked 117th overall in the Forbes rankings, which were released on Sept. 10. However, the school ranked 32nd and was named to the list of top 50 small colleges. Forbes similarly relies on outcomes-based metrics to determine its rankings, with a focus on graduation rates, student debt and alumni outcomes. 

As the school begins to roll out new institutional changes, it has seen a notable rise in national rankings. While it is unknown how this will affect the University going forward, the new data suggests a positive reception among the higher education community and for Brandeis in the coming year and beyond.