Educational Excellence: University of Wyoming Recognized as Top 100 U.S. University
A new list recently published by TIME magazine recognizes the University of Wyoming (UW) as one of the top-ranking universities in the country.
According to a Jan. 30 press release published by the UW Department of Institutional Communications, TIME ranked UW in the top 100 of all public and private U.S. universities, naming UW as the nation’s No. 61 public university and the 99th best U.S. university overall in a list titled “The World’s Top Universities of 2026.”
“This new ranking by TIME shows the people of Wyoming can be justifiably proud of their land-grant, flagship university,” says UW President Ed Seidel. “We’re a relatively small public university in the least-populated state in the nation, but we’re also a world-class institution that more than holds its own with bigger universities in the region, the country and across the globe.”
Determining rankings
In terms of rankings, TIME says the list was organized based on the extent to which students at each university “achieve extraordinary success” in leadership roles, business ventures, patenting new inventions and more.
Using public data collected across millions of college students, TIME determined the institutional rankings based on a series of criteria spanning from academic performance to global engagement.
Of this criteria, academic capacity and performance accounted for 60 percent of the universities’ overall score. This category was assessed by examining the resources devoted to teaching and research, along with the results achieved in terms of scholarly output, reputation and academic excellence.
The academic capacity and performance category was followed by innovation and economic impact, which accounted for 30 percent of the score.
This category was evaluated based on the university’s contributions to the advancement of science and technology, the diffusion of knowledge and the institution’s impact on economic decision-making throughout graduates’ careers, according to the UW Department of Institutional Communications.
Global engagement was also up for consideration, accounting for 10 percent of the overall score awarded by TIME.
Staying competitive
As noted by the UW Department of Institutional Communications, the new TIME ranking is just the latest in external recognition for the university.
Last year, UW ranked No. 146 in a list titled “Best Universities in the U.S. 2025” compiled by Research.com. Also in 2025, U.S. News listed UW at No. 172 out of all U.S. universities recognized in its “Best Global Universities” list.
In addition, the UW Department of Institutional Communications notes the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching recently designated UW as an R1 institution – an honor reserved for institutions conducting very high levels of research.
According to the press release, a mere 187 universities nationwide – just 4.8 percent of the country’s roughly 4,000 accredited, degree-granting institutions – have achieved distinguished R1 status.
“Our research doesn’t sit on a shelf,” Seidel states. “It’s put to work for Wyoming, bolstering our communities, supporting our industries and helping build a strong future for this state.”
Doug Stark, interim director of UW’s Ranch Management and Agricultural Leadership Program within the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources (CALSNR) and chairman of the UW Foundation Board, says this status reflects the impact UW has on both a state and national level.
“The impact the university has across the state and nationally is phenomenal,” says Stark, who also notes contributions from CALSNR are particularly impactful, as the college is one of the largest research entities on campus.
“CALSNR contributes significantly to the achievements of our university,” says Stark. “The work we do in agriculture across the state of Wyoming is a big part of accomplishing R1 status.”
Cowboy State commitment
Both Stark and Seidel say the rankings are reflective of UW’s broader commitment to its student body and the university’s impact upon the state and the nation.
“This growing strength isn’t about rankings – it’s about what Wyoming students and families get from Wyoming’s uni-
versity,” Seidel says. “UW delivers an outstanding education, recognized everywhere, which is also accessible and affordable, just as our founders intended.”
Stark echoes these sentiments, noting more than one-half of UW’s undergraduate student body is able to graduate debt-free and continue to make an impact long after graduation.
“We have a world-class university which is both affordable and accessible,” Stark comments. “The impact of graduates who come out of UW is often overlooked, but I really believe UW alums have out-punched their weight nationally.”
Stark emphasizes several graduates choose to remain in Wyoming and contribute to the state’s many industries after earning their degrees, while those who move elsewhere carry foundations built at UW into national and global successes.
“Many distinguished alums who received training from UW have gone on to reach high levels of leadership in nursing, healthcare, business, agriculture and energy, and some have gone on to lead global firms,” says Stark. “This is really a hallmark of the impact the university has on our state and our nation.”
Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
