Middle Tennessee State University is among 391 colleges and universities recognized among the nation’s best by The Princeton Review, one of the nation’s leading education services companies.
The 2026 ranking is based on data from the company’s surveys of 170,000 students at the 391 schools. Students attending the schools rate their own colleges on dozens of topics and report on their campus experiences at them.
Only two public universities in Tennessee — MTSU and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville — made the list. The other three state schools noted are private schools: Vanderbilt University, the University of the South and Rhodes College.
“We are proud that MTSU has made this prestigious list for the seventh consecutive year,” said MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee. “And we are pleased that our devotion to student success continues to garner national recognition.”
Rob Franek, editor-in-chief of The Princeton Review and the book’s lead author, said MTSU’s inclusion on the list signals that it is in a “truly select group.”
Said Franek, “They constitute only about 15% of America’s nearly 2,400 four-year institutions. While they vary by locale, type, size, and campus culture, each one offers its students an academically outstanding undergraduate education. In our opinion, they are the nation’s best undergraduate colleges and ideal choices for students seeking their ‘best-fit’ college.”
MTSU also made The Princeton Review’s list for Best Public Colleges and Best in the South.
Earlier this month, MTSU was named among four public institutions in the state to the Colleges of Distinction 2025-26 “Best Colleges in the U.S.” MTSU also made several of the organization’s best-of lists, including Best in Tennessee, Best Public Institutions, Business, Education, Nursing, Most Affordable, Career Development and Military Support.
— Andrew Oppmann (Andrew.Oppmann@mtsu.edu)