Rhodes College has been recognized among The Wall Street Journal’s “2026 Best Colleges in the U.S.” The ranking, developed in collaboration with research firm College Pulse, names the top 500 universities and colleges in the nation, focusing on how well colleges set their students up for financial success.
Rhodes ranked second in Tennessee, behind only Vanderbilt, well outranking all other private and public universities and colleges in Tennessee. The Wall Street Journal / College Pulse rankings are one of the largest independent surveys of college students in the U.S.
The ranking methodology considers student outcomes, graduation rates, salaries upon graduation, and how quickly an education at the college pays for itself. Students and recent alumni were also surveyed regarding learning opportunities, career preparation, and the extent to which they would recommend the college.
The student experience at Rhodes combines rigorous academics, individualized mentoring by teacher-scholars, and ample opportunities through community service, undergraduate research, and internships and fellowships in Memphis and far beyond. Alumni consistently report long-term benefits, lifelong employability, and career advancement because of their Rhodes education.
Rhodes has consistently ranked on “best colleges” lists for the last decade. Earlier this year, Forbes named the college to its list of America’s Top Colleges 2026. U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review, and Money recently named Rhodes to its 2026 Best Colleges lists. U.S. News & World Report ranked Rhodes No. 15 for Service Learning, No. 28 for Undergraduate Teaching, and No. 38 for Most Innovative Schools. The Princeton Review ranked Rhodes No. 6 on its Most Beautiful Campuses list and in the Top 20 Best Schools (private) for Internships.