Virginia State University jumps to No. 11 in national HBCU rankings

ETTRICK, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia State University (VSU) has made one of the biggest jumps in the nation in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

The school climbed 12 spots — from No. 23 in 2025 to No. 11 in the 2026 list — the largest increase of any HBCU featured this year. Out of 77 eligible institutions, VSU tied for 11th overall and ranked fifth among public HBCUs.

“The rise in our numbers reflects the progress we already knew was happening on our campus,” said VSU President Dr. Makola M. Abdullah. “Since rankings can shift over time, we cannot use rankings as our standard. Our true focus remains on being the best place for our students to learn, grow, and find their GREATER.”

To qualify for the HBCU rankings, universities must meet accreditation standards and offer four-year bachelor’s degree programs. The methodology weighs factors such as graduation and retention rates, faculty and financial resources, peer assessments and research.

Beyond the HBCU list, VSU also advanced in several other categories.

The school climbed 15 spots to No. 42 in Regional Universities (South), seven spots to No. 20 in Top Public Schools (South) and three spots to No. 28 in Best Value Schools (South).

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Tia A. Minnis called the recognition a reflection of VSU’s mission: “We are proud of our progress, but we know this is only the beginning. We will continue to focus on what matters most: educating and empowering students to lead, serve, and transform the world.”

The recognition comes during a milestone year for VSU. The university earned a prestigious Carnegie R2 Research Designation, launched a first-of-its-kind HBCU Studies course and celebrated national achievements from both faculty and students.

Among those achievements is a $1 million National Science Foundation grant awarded to biology professor Dr. Xianfa Xie for research on bioluminescent fungi, and a first-place win for VSU’s engineering team at the Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering Design Challenge.

President Abdullah emphasized that while the rankings are an honor, they don’t define VSU’s value.

“We have always believed that rankings cannot fully define an institution’s worth,” he said. “Our measure is the success of our students, the strength of our outcomes, and the GREATER impact we make in the communities we serve.”