The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) ranks No. 90 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Education Schools. Southern Miss jumped nine spots since breaking into the top 100 schools in 2024 and is now the second-highest ranked institution in Mississippi for teacher education programs.
“The College of Education and Human Sciences continues to raise the bar on instruction and co-curricular programs,” said University President Dr. Joseph S. Paul. “The programs in this college are sterling examples of how we prepare students to be ready for the classroom and ready for life. I am proud of this program’s leadership, and its faculty and staff, who tirelessly invest in the future educators of our great state.”
U.S. News’ Best Education Schools rankings evaluate programs on a variety of factors, including student selectivity, faculty resources, research activity and peer assessment. The rankings assess both public and private institutions across the country to empower prospective students to choose the best fit for their educational needs and career goals. Programs from nearly 500 colleges and universities were reviewed in this category for 2025.
“It’s an honor for Southern Miss to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s top education schools,” said Dr. Trent Gould, dean of the USM College of Education and Human Sciences. “Climbing in these rankings reflects the tireless commitment of our faculty, staff and students to academic excellence and innovation in teacher preparation. This recognition is not just a win for our university—it’s a meaningful step forward for Mississippi as a whole, highlighting the state’s increasing leadership in shaping the future of teacher education.”
U.S. News collects education school data annually to present the latest enrollment numbers, job placement rates, faculty statistics and other essential quality indicators to help prospective students make informed decisions. With evaluations from peer institutions making up a portion of the scoring rubric, this climb in Southern Miss’ ranking is in part due to leaders at other colleges and universities recognizing the heightened impact USM is making in teacher education.
“The University of Southern Mississippi has a long history of preparing teachers with quality instruction and hands-on training,” said University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Lance Nail. “This year’s rankings are evidence of the outstanding work being done in the College of Education and Human Sciences and the institution’s ongoing commitment to student success.”
The USM School of Education offers undergraduate programs in elementary education and secondary education as well as graduate programs in educational administration, higher education, elementary curriculum and instruction, special education, alternate route licensure, dyslexia therapy and educational research.