Linfield University is the No. 56 liberal arts college in the nation — and No. 1 in Oregon — for social mobility of its graduates. This announcement comes Tuesday as part of U.S. News & World Report’s annual publication. This is the sixth year in a row that Linfield has topped the 2026 Top Performers on Social Mobility – National Liberal Arts Colleges list.
The 2026 edition of the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings evaluates more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities. Editors used up to 17 factors to measure academic quality and graduate success. For the social mobility ranking, Linfield rose in the four spots from last year, going from No. 60 to 56.
U.S. News is not the only third-party to recognize Linfield’s commitment to students. Recently, Money magazine gave Linfield an impressive 4.5 out of 5 stars, noting the school’s strong return on investment for students and families. In addition, Niche ranked Linfield as the No. 1 Best Value College in Oregon.
“Rankings are never the full story of a university, but this recognition underscores something we are deeply proud of at Linfield: our ability to open doors for students from every background and help them thrive,” said Linfield President Mark Blegen. “Social mobility is not an abstract concept here. It is the lived experience of our graduates who launch successful careers, contribute to their communities and create better futures for their families. These outcomes reflect Linfield’s long-standing commitment to affordability, access and excellence.”
In addition to recognition for its commitment to social mobility, U.S. News also ranked Linfield as one of the top Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs. Linfield’s program rose seven places to finish No. 385 in the country and No. 3 in Oregon. The Linfield School of Nursing offers a traditional BSN and accelerated BSN program from its Portland campus.
U.S. News publishes the Best Colleges rankings each year to provide prospective students and their families with the comparative merits of the undergraduate programs at America’s colleges and universities. The rankings offer detailed information of the institutions. It also includes data on factors such as graduation rates, graduate indebtedness and post-graduate earnings.
“U.S. News’ Best Colleges remains a reliable resource for prospective students and their families as they navigate the college selection process,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for Education at U.S. News. “With over half of the ranking factors dedicated to student outcomes, the rankings and editorial content provide vital data, college advice and informed reporting to every student pursuing higher education.”
Additional information about Linfield can be found at linfield.edu/rankings.
