Ohio Northern University is the #1 college in the Midwest, according to new rankings from U.S. News & World Report.
In the publication’s 2026 Best Regional Colleges Midwest list, ONU is ranked #1 in the overall rankings (up from #2 last year). ONU also ranked #1 in Best Value Schools and #1 for Best College for Veterans in the Midwest college rankings.
According to U.S. News, the best value rankings are based on a school's academic quality and the net cost of attendance. “The higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal.” The veterans ranking highlights schools that make pursuing a college education more affordable for veterans and active-duty service members.
ONU’s undergraduate engineering program also receives high marks from U.S. News, ranking #14 nationally (and #1 in Ohio) on the publication’s list of Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (no doctorate).
The University’s undergraduate programs in business, and computer science are also nationally ranked.
“Year after year, ONU continues to deliver an affordable, world-class education with an outstanding return on investment,” said ONU President Melissa J. Baumann, Ph.D. “These latest rankings recognize our commitment to our students and are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our faculty and staff.”
The 2026 edition of the U.S. News Best Colleges evaluates more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities, using up to 17 factors to measure academic quality and graduate success.