The University of Maryland Eastern Shore received its highest ranking ever in the U.S. News & World Report survey of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).
U.S. News ranked UMES in the top 6 of public HBCUs and No. 14 among 78 HBCUs in the 2023-24 edition. The overall ranking is up two spots from last year and is its highest ranking since the publication created the HBCU category in 2007. UMES came in at #200 among all public colleges and universities.
“One great year of rankings does not make a great university,” said Dr. Heidi M. Anderson, UMES President. “But our sustained rise in the rankings indicates that we are on the right trajectory of performance. Our rise in the rankings is a reflection of the quality of our students and faculty and the commitment of our leadership team to sustained excellence,” said Dr. Anderson. “Our goal is to change the lives of our stewards and be wonderful stewards of our community. Achieving this honor is an indication that we’re achieving our goals and continue to soar above and beyond.”
It is the fourth consecutive year under Anderson’s leadership the university has moved up in the highly competitive rankings. It’s also the sixth consecutive year UMES has maintained a Top-20 overall HBCU ranking.
UMES made gains in the other listings issued by the publication as the institution jumped 33 spots to No. 82 in top performers on social ability among national universities and 12 spots to No. 155 in undergraduate engineering programs without a doctorate. The university is also ranked 375th overall among national universities and 403rd in undergraduate business programs.
UMES, Maryland’s only 1890 Land Grant University, is the only HBCU to offer eight health professions programs, producing graduates to combat the health care disparities that exist in rural and medically underserved areas throughout the country.
UMES offers bachelor’s degrees in 38 areas, including such fields of study as engineering, golf management, hospitality studies, kinesiology, marine science education, mathematics, information technology, and humanities. Cybersecurity and pharmaceutical sciences are among 17 master’s degree programs in UMES’ graduate school, which also offers eight doctoral degrees, including pharmacy, physical therapy, and toxicology.
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes UMES as a “high-research activity” doctoral institution.
U.S. News asks senior administrators – presidents, academic policymakers, and admissions directors – to rate the academic quality of peer institutions. Graduation and retention rates and faculty resources also factor into the ranking equation.
