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U.S. News Ranks VCSU #2 Public Regional College in the Midwest

Sep 25, 2025

A VCSU student and faculty work together in a research lab on VCSU's campus.

VALLEY CITY (VCSU) – Valley City State University has once again earned national recognition in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, securing the No. 2 spot among Public Regional Colleges in the 12-state Midwest region.

VCSU also maintained its position as the Top Public Regional College in North Dakota for the fifth consecutive year and has been named a U.S. News Best College for 28 straight years.

“We are honored to be recognized as a leader in public higher education, not only in North Dakota but across the Midwest,” said Dr. Alan LaFave, President of VCSU. “These rankings affirm what we already know: VCSU offers high-quality, student-centered experiences for all who choose to become Vikings.”

In addition to its top-tier public school rankings, VCSU climbed nine spots in the overall Regional Colleges in the Midwest category, rising to #15 out of 89 institutions—both public and private.

Notably, VCSU is one of only two public regional colleges in the Midwest to be named a Best Value School—and the only institution from North Dakota to receive this distinction. This highlights VCSU’s dedication to providing quality education at an affordable price.

The Best Value School ranking considers both academic quality and the cost of attendance. VCSU is the top Midwest public regional college in this category. In a recent student survey, 98 percent of VCSU students said their education was worth the investment.

“Our faculty and staff are committed to student success,” said Larry Brooks, Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Our efforts to keep education affordable without compromising quality continues to be recognized with rankings such as these from U.S. News.”

VCSU also earned recognition in several key categories:

  • #3 Best Colleges for Veterans in the Midwest
  • #17 Best Value Schools in the Midwest (up from #20)
  • #57 Top Performers on Social Mobility (up from #74)

Now in its 41st year, the U.S. News rankings evaluate nearly 1,500 national colleges and universities using up to 17 measures of academic quality and place an emphasis on social mobility and outcomes for graduating college students. To learn more about the U.S. News Best Colleges, visit https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges.

For more information about VCSU’s rankings and academic programs, visit www.vcsu.edu.