UWRF honored by U.S. News and World Report, Princeton Review

Sept. 22, 2026 - The University of Wisconsin-River Falls has once again been recognized by multiple publications as one of the top public regional universities in the Midwest, a sign of the university’s ongoing commitment to providing students a high-quality education.

U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review have each selected UWRF for its excellence in educating students. The rankings also reflect college affordability and students being prepared for successful careers.

The U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges rankings released on September 22 lists UWRF tied for No. 14 among public regional universities in the Midwest and tied for 58th among regional universities in the Midwest.

The U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings are calculated using up to 17 measures of academic quality, with the intent of helping students and their families identify colleges that best meet their needs. The report evaluates nearly 1,700 colleges and universities nationally.

UWRF has also again been named to the Princeton Review’s Best Regional Colleges List for 2027. UWRF is among 150 colleges to be listed in the Midwest region and is one of four public schools in Wisconsin to be included.

“We chose the schools for our 2027 Best Regional Colleges lists primarily based on our high regard for their academics,” said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor in chief. “We also considered what students attending the schools reported to us about their experiences at them."

Current students said they were drawn to UWRF for its quality education at an affordable price. They said UWRF works to help students achieve success by offering a myriad of opportunities for internships, student teaching, studying abroad and real work experience, which make grads “exceptionally competitive” once they hit the job market. Students said they benefit from small class sizes that allow students to feel more involved in the classroom. Overall, they give high marks to their “very knowledgeable” professors, who work hard to ensure that classes are “enjoyable and intriguing." Many undergraduates also highlighted the “amazing” business and agriculture programs at UWRF.

In addition to these honors, Colleges of Distinction recently named UW-River Falls a College of Distinction for the 2026-2027 academic year. This award signifies a school’s adherence to what Colleges of Distinction calls its four distinctions: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Community and Successful Outcomes.

“Our faculty and staff work every day to create opportunities that help students learn, grow and succeed beyond the classroom,” said Interim Chancellor John Chenoweth. “Experiences such as internships, research, athletics, study abroad and creative endeavors prepare students for lifelong success while providing exceptional value.”

Beyond awards for academic excellence, UWRF holds a current STARS Gold rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. Ratings are awarded in Reporter, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels, with Platinum being the highest.

UWRF was awarded the STARS Gold rating in April 2024, and it remains active for three years.

Photo: Students walk on the UW-River Falls campus on the first day of classes, Sept. 2. UWRF has again been named to lists of best colleges by U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review.