HBCU University Of Maryland Eastern Shore Achieves Historic U.S. News & World Report Ranking

Just in time for HBCU Homecoming Season, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) has made history.

Located in Princess Anne, Maryland, the university is among the top six public HBCUs in the nation and ranked 13th overall out of 78 institutions for 2026-27, U.S. News & World Report announced yesterday. The historic ranking is particularly special as the school is celebrating the 140th anniversary of its founding this year. The new ranking positions UMES nine spots higher than last year in the publication’s highly competitive public HBCU category. UMES has consistently moved up the rankings list for the last two decades.

“This year’s rankings demonstrate a clear commitment to the high education and research performance standards by UMES students, faculty and staff,” said Dr. Heidi M. Anderson, UMES president. “The continued appearance in the highest margins of U.S. News & World Report’s college ranking indicates a clear vision for success for all seeking higher education at UMES, which continues to become recognized as a world-class learning and research institution.”

UMES is a public, 1890 land-grant, historically Black university with a special focus on first-generation and underserved students. Notable UMES alumni include CEO and founder of Muse Technologies, Inc. and former NASA executive Linda Y. Cureton, PhD, award-winning neurologist Dorothy P. Dada, MD, PhD and former Morgan State University president Earl S. Richardson, EdD. Fun fact: Hip-hop veteran David Banner attended UMES to pursue a Master’s degree in Education—reportedly maintaining an impressive 3.9 GPA—but ultimately left the program to focus full-time on music.

Additionally, UMES–proud home of Hawk Pride–is the:

Only accredited college in the nation offering a four-year professional pilot program
Only HBCU with a three-year pharmacy doctorate program in the country
Only accredited four-year, public college in the nation offering a sequential arts program
Only HBCU in the nation offering a PGA-certified professional golf management program

UMES is also seeking accreditation for a School of Veterinary Medicine, which would be the only standalone veterinary program in Maryland and the only veterinary medical school at a public HBCU in the nation.

North Carolina A&T State University took the number one spot on the public historically Black college or university in the 2027 Best Colleges rankings from U.S. News & World Report list which Florida A&M University (FAMU) previously held for 7 consecutive years in that category. UMES is one of the few smaller HBCUs to receive a high ranking on the list this year and the inclusion is refreshing. Current students and alums will have even more to celebrate at this year’s homecoming festivities beginning November 1.

Congrats to all of the winners!