William & Mary has been named the nation’s top public university for students seeking to make a difference in the world, according to The Princeton Review’s newly released 2027 Best Value Colleges rankings.
The publication’s “Best Schools for Making an Impact” category recognizes colleges that prepare students to contribute meaningfully to society through service, leadership and civic engagement.
Service is one of William & Mary’s core values, and the university has a long legacy of students and alumni serving their communities in various capacities. This year, William & Mary celebrates its Year of Civic Leadership, which highlights that legacy and the university’s ongoing commitment to service, public stewardship and leadership.
Earlier this year, Washington Monthly also recognized William & Mary’s commitment to making an impact, ranking the university 15th in the nation for service. In addition, the university ranked 28th among U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges for Veterans and earned designation as a Gold-Level Military Friendly School, the highest honor given by MilitaryFriendly.com.
A commitment to civic action
The No. 1 ranking for making an impact reflects a defining feature of the William & Mary experience: a commitment to public service, civic leadership and using knowledge to address real-world challenges.
Last year, William & Mary launched a “civic action scorecard.” Students have already completed more than 1,000 actions, according to Elizabeth Miller, director of civic and community engagement.
Students also volunteer regularly in the broader community including through programs managed by Civic & Community Engagement, Athletics, and 52 civic and community service student organizations. One example of W&M students going above and beyond: 22 students served as AmeriCorps volunteers last year, contributing 4,000 hours to youth mental health and early literacy programming.
“What stands out about William & Mary students is that their commitment to community impact and civic leadership is not simply something that they do, but a core part of who they are,” said Miller. “Contributing to the common good in partnership with others and with an eye toward the future is in our university ethos.”
Opportunities to study in D.C. at the W&M Washington Center bring that same commitment to life in the nation’s capital, connecting students with organizations, leaders and experiences that help them see how their own interests, talents and values can translate into meaningful work and impact.
Emily Reynolds ’28, a government major, says her experience working in voter engagement has already shaped who she is.
“As I’ve taken on this campus organizing role to get the vote out at William & Mary I’ve been blown away by just how many students are willing to volunteer, get educated and make a difference in their community,” Reynolds said. “I have gained incredibly valuable experience that I will be taking with me into the workforce.”
Through initiatives such as contributing to ecological research at W&M’s VIMS & Batten School, to joining the Sharpe Community Scholars and Democracy Scholars programs or committing to numerous community-based research opportunities, students are encouraged to connect classroom learning with meaningful action.
The latest rankings also underscore William & Mary’s continued strength in preparing students for life after graduation. The university has long been recognized for providing students with access to internships, research opportunities, mentorship and a powerful alumni network that opens doors to careers across a wide range of fields. Many alumni choose careers that focus on service or civic leadership, from starting their own non-profit organizations to serving in the military to holding roles in government.
For William & Mary students, this year’s results highlight a distinction that extends beyond value alone: Among public universities nationwide, students see the university as the best place to learn how to make a difference in the real world.
“This school has the amazing ability to turn scholars into leaders, and leaders into pillars of their community,” said Jackson Webb ’28, who is majoring in human health & physiology, with a minor in chemistry. “Because of the environment that William & Mary fosters, I’ve been given the opportunity to grow as a leader and develop my ability to impact my community upon graduation.”
Rankings recognition
The Princeton Review ranking is part of its annual Best Value Colleges guide, which highlights 209 institutions selected from more than 650 colleges and universities surveyed nationwide. The publication evaluates schools based on academics, affordability and career preparation, using more than 40 data points collected during 2025 and 2026. While the overall list is unranked, the guide includes several ranking lists in various categories.
In addition to earning the top spot for making an impact, William & Mary received strong marks across several categories tied to career readiness and student outcomes, landing in the top 20 for all. The university ranked seventh among public schools for internships, ninth for best value without aid and 12th among the nation’s top 50 public best value colleges. William & Mary also placed 17th for career placement, 19th for financial aid and 20th for alumni networks.
The university received a return-on-investment rating of 90 out of 99 from The Princeton Review, reflecting the organization’s assessment of the long-term value students receive from their education.
Other recent rankings also tout William & Mary’s excellence. The university was named among the nation’s top 20 public universities by TIME (16th), Niche (17th), Forbes (18th) and U.S. News & World Report (19th). In addition, The Princeton Review named William & Mary students the friendliest in the nation.
Susan Corbett, Communications Specialist