Story By: Vallo Vision News Staff

The University of Montevallo continues to climb in the U.S. News and World Report’s Best College rankings for 2026.

UM climbed to the No. 6 spot for Best Value Schools among universities in the South. UM is the only institution in the state to be ranked in the top 10 in this category for five consecutive years, according to a statement released by UM.

In the statement, Leroy Nix, an alum and member UM’s board of trustees, said he was proud of the university continuing to rank highly.

“These achievements directly reflect the dedication of our faculty and staff, and most importantly, the success of our students,” Nix said in the statement. “Montevallo truly does mean more – more opportunity, more value and more pathways to a stronger future.”

In addition to its high ranking in the Best Value category, UM jumped 17 places to achieve its highest-ever ranking in the Top Performers on Social Mobility, earning a top 30 spot in the region. According to the university’s statement, this category “highlights colleges that successfully enroll and graduate students who receive federal Pell Grants, underscoring the University’s commitment to educational equity.”

UM also ranked highly in several other categories in this year’s Best Colleges report:

  • No. 11 Public Universities in the Regional South
  • No. 22 overall in Regional Universities in the South
  • No. 10 Best Colleges for Veterans in the Regional South.

Trustee Matt Fridy also expressed his pride in UM’s strong performance in this year’s rankings, saying, “Achieving a top 10 position in the Best Value category, along with an overall top 15 position among all public regional universities in the South, demonstrates what those of us associated with UM have always known – that our faculty, administration, and staff are among the best around and are committed to the success of our students and our university.”