ULM always strives to be the “Best on the Bayou.” Beyond the bayou, the university ranks No. 352 out of 436 national universities.
U.S. News and World Report released its rankings for the best national universities in 2025 at the end of September. When ranking universities, U.S. News and World Report considers 17 factors, ranging from the university’s number of publications to faculty salary.
In 2017, U.S. News and Report classified ULM as a national university for the first time in  history because it “offers a full range of undergraduate majors, plus master’s and doctoral programs.”
Still, ULM falls behind other Louisiana universities, such as LSU, Tulane, and LA Tech.
English program coordinator Will Rogers received his Ph.D. from Cornell University, one of the highest-ranked universities in the nation. After getting his doctoral degree, Roger taught at Cornell University, ranked No.11 in the country, and Case Western Reserve University, ranked No. 51 in the U.S. Rogers stated that he considers ULM to be a place that fosters growth and curiosity.
“For an institution our size, ULM does a good job, as the University of Dallas did earlier for me, of creating rich educational opportunities and helping students through undergraduate and graduate education,” Rogers said. “ULM is ranked higher for me than many of these other universities on the current rankings — I have found this to be an intellectually rewarding place.”
Students, such as freshman computer science major Mukunda Basnet,  agreed with the faculty that rankings do not represent the overall experience of attending ULM.
“ULM’s rank didn’t play a crucial role in my admission decision,” Basnet said. “Prospects for growth, job opportunities and financial aid are much more important.”
Vice President for Enrollment Management and University Relations Lisa Miller began working at ULM in 2002. She explained that the university prioritizes each student’s individual experience over national rankings.
“I believe our graduates’ success stories far outweigh the algorithm of a ranking,” Miller said. “We are in the business of changing lives and will continue to strive to be the best university possible.”