U.S. News & World Report today named Anderson University, South Carolina’s largest private university, to its list of Best Colleges in the South. All told, the publication included AU in seven categories, including Best Undergraduate Teaching Programs, Best Colleges for Veterans and Most Innovative Schools.
AU rose three places and is now the #31 Best College among regional universities in the South, according to U.S. News and World Report. Anderson ranks #6 for Best Undergraduate Teaching Programs; #14 for Best Colleges for Veterans; #15 for Most Innovative; and #33 for Best Value.
The U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Colleges report comes amid AU’s continued growth into one of the most respected private Christian colleges in the state and nation. Earlier this year, Niche, a leading college-search service for prospective students, ranked Anderson University as the #1 Christian college in South Carolina; the #2 best college campus in South Carolina; and the #3 best private university in South Carolina, among others.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, Anderson University earned the following rankings:
- Best Undergraduate Teaching Programs among regional universities in the South: #6 (U.S. News & World Report, 2026)
- Best Colleges for Veterans among regional universities in the South: #14 (U.S. News & World Report, 2026)
- Most Innovative Schools among regional universities in the South: #15 (U.S. News & World Report, 2026)
- Best College among regional universities in the South: #31 (U.S. News & World Report, 2026)
- Best Value School among regional universities in the South: #33 (U.S. News & World Report, 2026)
- Best Christian Colleges in South Carolina: #1 (Niche, 2026)
- Best College Campuses in South Carolina: #2 (Niche, 2026)
- Top Private Universities in South Carolina: #3 (Niche, 2026)
- Best Colleges for Education in South Carolina: #3 (Niche, 2026)
- Best Colleges for Business in South Carolina: #3 (Niche, 2026)