The University of Central Oklahoma has reached its highest-ever position in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, marking a new high for the university in the publication’s Regional Universities–West category. UCO also improved its positions among Top Public Schools–West and institutions recognized for social mobility.
UCO Moves to No. 55
UCO ranked No. 55 among Regional Universities–West in the latest U.S. News rankings. The university says this is its highest position since it first appeared in the category in the 2012 edition.
The university also remained the highest-ranked public university in Oklahoma in the Regional Universities–West category, according to UCO’s announcement.
Public University Ranking Improves
UCO moved to No. 27 among Top Public Schools–West, improving from No. 32 in the previous edition. The university had ranked No. 38 in the category in 2025.
The rankings use multiple measures to evaluate universities, including factors related to academic reputation, graduation and retention, faculty resources, financial resources, selectivity, and student outcomes.
Social Mobility Position Rises
UCO also moved up in the Top Performers in Social Mobility: Regional Universities category. The university ranked No. 68, an improvement of 17 positions from the previous edition.
The social mobility category considers how effectively institutions enroll and graduate students from lower-income backgrounds, using measures connected to student outcomes and economic circumstances.
University Points to Student Growth
UCO President Todd G. Lamb said the latest rankings reflect progress across the university and its focus on student success, access, and preparation for the workforce.
The ranking announcement comes as UCO reports growth in its incoming freshman class. More than 2,000 first-time freshmen joined the Class of 2030, making it the university’s largest freshman class in nearly a decade.
Freshman Enrollment Increases
The Class of 2030 represents a 4% increase compared with fall 2025 and a 10% increase compared with fall 2023. More than 96% of the incoming freshmen graduated from an Oklahoma high school.
UCO says the enrollment growth is part of its broader focus on student success, academic programs, and workforce preparation.
Programs Across Multiple Fields
The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs across areas including business, engineering, nursing, computer science, psychology, education, and the arts. UCO currently has more than 12,000 students.
The university’s main campus is located in Edmond, Oklahoma, and it also operates facilities in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.
Continued Movement in Recent Rankings
The latest result builds on earlier improvements in UCO’s U.S. News rankings. The university previously reported a No. 60 position in Regional Universities–West in the 2022-23 edition and has now reached No. 55.
UCO’s latest rankings therefore mark its strongest showing to date in the Regional Universities–West category, alongside gains in public university and social mobility measures.
Latest Status
The University of Central Oklahoma’s latest U.S. News ranking places it at No. 55 among Regional Universities–West, its highest position in the category. The university also ranks No. 27 among Top Public Schools–West and No. 68 among Top Performers in Social Mobility: Regional Universities.