Arlington, Va. — As it marks its 75th anniversary this fall, Marymount University is celebrating a wave of national recognition with strong showings in rankings released by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes and Niche. These results highlight Marymount’s upward momentum as one of the region’s most dynamic private universities.
In U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Colleges Rankings, Marymount reached its highest-ever position among all National Universities, rising 15 spots to No. 273. For the first time, Marymount is ranked No. 1 among all Virginia private institutions. The University also leaped 85 spots to No. 189 in Top Performers on Social Mobility, reflecting its commitment to advancing opportunity for students from all backgrounds.
In program-specific categories, Marymount climbed to No. 214 in Undergraduate Nursing—the highest among Virginia’s private institutions—and earned its first-ever ranking in Undergraduate Computer Science, placing second among Virginia private institutions. For Most International Students, Marymount was listed at No. 32 nationally—second among all Virginia colleges and universities, and second for all institutions in the DMV region.
Marymount was also included in the Forbes 2026 America’s Top Colleges list. The recognition places the University among only four private institutions in Virginia to appear on the list, which honors colleges that produce successful, high-earning and influential graduates from all economic backgrounds while limiting student debt.
In Niche’s 2026 grades, Marymount earned an overall B+ rating—its strongest mark in three years. The University placed among the top five in Virginia for categories including diversity, safety, location and nursing programs, while also ranking nationally for best Catholic colleges as well as information technology and design programs. Niche combines public data with millions of student and parent reviews, giving families a holistic picture of the student experience.
“These results show what can happen when a campus community comes together with a shared vision for excellence and a passion for student success,” said Dr. Irma Becerra, President of Marymount University. “We are preparing students to thrive in their chosen careers while also leading meaningful lives of service. The recognition we are receiving from national outlets like U.S. News & World Report, Forbes and Niche affirms the value of a Marymount education and the transformational opportunities we provide to every student.”
Scores from U.S. News & World Report are determined through several weighted key measures of quality that include graduation and retention rates, peer assessment, faculty resources, graduation rate performance, financial resources and more. Social mobility, part of U.S. News & World Report’s outcomes measures, assesses how well schools graduate economically disadvantaged students based on graduation rates of Pell Grant recipients. Rankings of undergraduate nursing and computer science programs are based solely on peer assessment surveys completed by top academics and officials in respective programs across the country.
Methodology used by U.S. News & World Report for its Best Colleges Rankings
About Marymount UniversityMarymount University is a nationally ranked, private, Catholic, doctoral-granting university and Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) in Arlington, Va., minutes from downtown Washington, D.C. Founded in 1950 by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Marymount has spent 75 years cultivating a spirit of curiosity and service while fostering intellect, compassion and global citizenship in its students. Marymount is consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s most ethnically and internationally diverse campuses—over 4,000 students from 51 states and territories and 66 countries—reflecting its commitment to creating a welcoming environment where students explore their passions, pursue their dreams, positively impact the world and Learn with Purpose.