Linfield University has been named Oregon’s highest-ranked college in TIME’s inaugural America’s Best Colleges of 2026-2027. Announced Aug. 25, Linfield earned the No. 136 spot nationally. TIME and the data research firm Statista recognized 500 institutions in the United States.

The ranking evaluates colleges across three areas: student outcomes, learning environment and attractiveness. TIME’s methodology puts the greatest weight on what students gain from their college experience. Student outcomes account for 75% of the overall score. They include measures of graduation rates, graduates’ earnings and return on education relative to its cost. Learning environment accounts for 15%, while attractiveness to prospective students accounts for 10%.

For Linfield, the recognition reflects the value of an education designed not simply to prepare students for their first job. It helps students build the knowledge, skills and relationships to navigate a changing world.

“This recognition is a meaningful reflection of what happens when we put students at the center of the university,” Linfield President Mark Blegen said. “At Linfield, we believe an education should do more than prepare students for a first job. It should give them the curiosity to keep learning, the confidence to adapt and the relationships that help them find their way in a changing world.”

That focus on student outcomes aligns with Linfield’s approach to liberal arts education. Across Linfield’s academic programs, students explore broadly, reason deeply and build meaningful relationships as they develop the knowledge and skills to navigate what comes next. Linfield offers programs in nursing, the sciences, business, education, humanities and the arts. Across disciplines, students connect what they learn to challenges and opportunities beyond the classroom.

“The world doesn’t need graduates who can simply repeat what they already know,” Blegen said. “It needs people who can ask good questions, think critically, listen to perspectives different from their own and work with others to solve problems. That is the enduring value of a Linfield education, and it is why liberal arts education remains so important.”

That combination of breadth, depth and relationships can be particularly valuable in a workforce where industries, technologies and career paths continue to evolve.

Linfield’s ranking placed it ahead of every other Oregon institution included on the list. Those recognized are:

  • Linfield University at No. 136.
  • Portland State University at No. 189.
  • University of Portland at No. 213.
  • Oregon Institute of Technology at No. 299.
  • University of Oregon at No. 356.
  • Oregon State University at No. 431.

“We’re proud to see Linfield recognized, but the real measure of our success is what our students do with the opportunities they have here,” Blegen said. “Whether they are conducting research, studying abroad, building something new or simply discovering a direction they hadn’t considered before, we want every student to leave Linfield ready to go further than they thought possible.”

The America’s Best Colleges of 2026-2027 ranking is based on the most recent data available from the federal Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Scorecard as of April 2026. TIME and Statista evaluated eligible four-year, degree-granting public and nonprofit institutions. Eligible institutions had an average of at least 750 full-time equivalent undergraduate students over the previous four years.

For the complete ranking and methodology, visit TIME’s America’s Best Colleges of 2026-2027. For a full list of honors and accolades, visit linfield.edu/rankings.

About Linfield University

Linfield University is an independent, nonprofit university with campuses in McMinnville and Portland, Oregon, as well an eCampus for online learning. Since 1858, Linfield has connected traditional liberal arts experience with practical education in more than 50 majors, including wine studies, sport management and nursing. Linfield also offers interdisciplinary master’s degrees in business, nursing and sports sciences. For six years running, U.S. News & World Report has named Linfield one of the top liberal arts colleges in the nation when it comes to social mobility. Forty-two percent of Linfield undergraduates are first-generation college students, and 42% are U.S. students of color. Linfield competes in the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference. Learn more at www.linfield.edu.

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