The U.S. Air Force Academy continues its ascent as a premier undergraduate institution, achieving significant gains in the latest U.S. News & World Report's "Best Colleges" rankings, released Sept. 23.

Key highlights:

•  #2 Top Public School: The Academy held steady as one of the nation's leading public institutions and second among the military service academies. U.S. News & World Report defines public schools as operating under the supervision of the government and funded in part with tax dollars.
•  #5 National Liberal Arts College: The Academy jumped a remarkable three spots from #8 last year, #18 in 2022, and #39 in 2020, showcasing significant progress and commitment to academic excellence. U.S. News & World Report defines this category as institutions that focus almost exclusively on undergraduate education and award at least 50% of their degrees in the arts and sciences. All Air Force Academy graduates receive a bachelor of science degree. 
• Elite Engineering Programs: The Academy ranked #7 among Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs, with multiple specialties once again in the top 10.

“Our faculty members deliver an exceptional education that shapes the next generation of Air Force and Space Force leaders,” said U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony D. Bauernfeind '91. “Despite resource challenges, they’ve gone above and beyond to maintain the quality and strength of our academic programs. Their dedication and expertise are the driving force behind our institution’s continued excellence, and I’m proud to see their hard work reflected in our rankings.”

The Academy's impressive U.S. News overall score of 94 out of 100 reflects its strengths in key areas such as peer reputation, graduation rates and student-faculty ratio. Last year, USAFA scored 93 out of 100. The Academy's engineering programs continue to dominate, securing top rankings amongst schools where a doctorate is not offered:

• #5 Aerospace / Aeronautical / Astronautical Engineering
• #6 Civil Engineering
• #6 Electrical / Electronic / Communications Engineering: Up three spots from last year!
• #6 Mechanical Engineering
• #7 Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs

“Our rankings represent the professionalism and excellence of our civilian and military faculty and dedicated academic support staff,” said Col. Steven Hasstedt '92, acting dean of the faculty. “Our faculty are the essential foundation allowing us to provide a world class and accredited education, developing critical thinkers, problem solvers, and forging our cadets into warfighter-scholars ready to lead our Air Force and Space Force on day one. I am proud of all our faculty does for our cadets and our nation.” 

The U.S. Air Force Academy continues to set the standard for excellence in higher education, preparing future warfighters to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

The Academy's rankings can be viewed here.

To learn more about how U.S. News & World Report ranks schools, click here.