Elon University is ranked No. 1 for excellence in undergraduate teaching for the second consecutive year by the U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” Guide, which released rankings Sept. 12. The university also received a No. 6 ranking in the “Most Innovative,” gaining three spots from last year, and was ranked No. 89 overall among national universities.
“The depth and quality of the relationships between faculty and students at Elon is a hallmark of our culture, and we’re pleased this purposeful focus was recognized again this year with a #1 national ranking for teaching excellence,” Elon University President Connie Book said in a press release. “Mentorship — inside and outside the classroom, by Elon faculty and staff — is a critical component of an Elon education as we focus on student success and building a foundation for lifelong learning.”
For the eighth consecutive year, Elon has been named in the guide’s “Programs to Look For” as the only college or university in the nation ranked among the top 20 in all eight categories of programs that link to student success and positive learning outcomes. The recognition includes experiences such as learning communities, first-year experiences, study abroad, undergraduate research and internships.
After moving to the national universities category in 2019, Elon ranked No. 84 overall and No. 51 among private institutions in 2019, No. 88 overall and No. 55 among private universities in 2020, No. 83 overall and No. 51 among private institutions in 2021 and in 2022, No. 89 overall and No. 52 among private institutions.
“Elon is a leader in positioning students to thrive in a broad range of opportunities with the support of invested and engaged faculty and staff,” Book said in the press release. “These recognitions reflect how Elon puts the student at the center of its mission and values creating well-rounded graduates that the world needs.”
In North Carolina, 16 colleges and universities were included in the overall national universities rankings, including Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University and North Carolina State University, all of which ranked above Elon.