PNW Ranked Among 2027 Best Midwest Public Regional Universities by U.S. News & World Report

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) once again earned recognition as a top public regional university in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 annual Best Colleges rankings, released Tuesday, Sept. 22.

PNW is ranked 30th among top public Midwest regional universities, up seven spots from last year’s report.

PNW also was noted as a top performer in social mobility for its students among Midwest regional universities. Social mobility is a reflection of how well higher education institutions support and graduate low-income and first-generation college students.

More than half of PNW’s undergraduate students identify as first-generation college students. PNW provides nationally recognized support for students through on-campus programming and resources, including its Student Success Hub and Network, its office of First Generation College Student Success, mentoring, academic advising, tutoring and career services.

In spring 2026 PNW became the first university in Indiana and one of only 40 across the nation to be recognized as a Network Champion by the FirstGen Forward Network, earning the coalition’s highest distinction for continuous efforts to provide holistic and quality support for first-generation college students.