U.S. News & World Report’s latest rankings name Elmhurst University the top school in the Midwest for veterans, and No. 7 overall among the Best Regional Universities in the Midwest.
Elmhurst also ranks No. 8 among the Top Performers for Social Mobility, No. 8 for Undergraduate Teaching and No. 12 for Best Value in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges rankings, which were released on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
U.S. News publishes the Best Colleges rankings each year to provide prospective students and their families with the comparative merits of undergraduate programs at America’s colleges and universities. Now in its 40th year, the rankings evaluate nearly 1,500 national colleges and universities on up to 17 measures of academic quality, placing an emphasis on social mobility and outcomes for graduating college students.
Elmhurst’s rankings in the categories pertaining to veterans, undergraduate teaching and social mobility reaffirm the University’s values and commitment to student success, said President Troy D. VanAken.
“Academic excellence, professional preparation and social responsibility are central to who we are and how we can best equip our students to thrive, not only on campus but wherever their paths lead them next,” he said.
The Best Colleges for Veterans rankings provide data on top-ranked schools that make pursuing a college education more affordable for veterans and active-duty service members. Schools included in the ranking must be certified for the GI Bill and participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, and are ranked to a significant degree based on their overall score in the 2025 Best Colleges rankings. Nearly 50 military students currently attend Elmhurst University, including veterans, students actively serving in the military, and the children and spouses of veterans. A $3.4 million gift to the University in 2021 helps support student veterans on campus and is introducing more STM majors (Science, Technology and Math) to careers in national security and defense.
The Top Performers for Social Mobility category describes colleges and universities that have been the most successful at advancing students’ social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of economically disadvantaged students. About half of Elmhurst’s undergraduate students are the first in their families to attend college, and nearly all receive some form of financial aid.
The Undergraduate Teaching ranking is based on a peer assessment survey of college presidents, provosts and admissions deans who were asked to name the schools they believe have faculty with a remarkably strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.
The Best Value Schools are based on overall academic quality, the percentage of full-time undergraduates in 2023-24 who received need-based scholarships or grants, and the average discount from the school’s total 2023-2024 sticker price for full-time undergraduates receiving the average need-based grant.
The full U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2024-2025 report can be found at usnews.com/best-colleges.