At a moment when many institutions across the nation are facing unprecedented challenges, Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) is proud to announce a series of significant new achievements in the 2026 Research.com Best Colleges Rankings and the 2025–2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings. 

“While some may only know our challenges, these rankings tell a truer story — a story of perseverance, excellence, and hope,” said Dr. Verjanis Peoples, Interim President of SAU. “The fact that SAU climbed 12 places in social mobility this year proves that our students are thriving and that our mission continues to change lives. These results demonstrate that SAU is still worth believing in. Every ranking, every gain, and every success story fuels our belief in what is possible. We ask our alumni, friends, and partners across the nation to stand with us — because together, we can secure a future where SAU continues to transform lives for generations to come.”

Research.com 2026 Best Colleges Rankings
Research.com — one of the most trusted global platforms for higher education analysis — ranked SAU among the top colleges in North Carolina and the US South region. Key distinctions include:

• #15 – Most Popular Colleges in North Carolina
• Most Popular North Carolina 2026 Distinction
• #30 – Best Colleges in North Carolina
• #125 – Most Popular Colleges in the South

These rankings reflect the resilience of SAU’s academic mission, the dedication of its faculty, and the continued belief that students place in the Falcon experience.

U.S. News & World Report Rankings
SAU also recorded meaningful progress in the 2025–2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, highlighted by a major upward climb in Social Mobility:

SAU rose 12 spots in Social Mobility — from #54 last year to #42 this year.

This represents one of the strongest year-over-year improvements among HBCUs in the region, underscoring SAU’s longstanding commitment to supporting students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Additional recognitions include:

• #42 Top Performers on Social Mobility — Regional Colleges South
• #3 HBCU in North Carolina for Social Mobility

These recognitions confirm SAU’s impact in advancing student success and expanding opportunity — even in the face of extraordinary institutional challenges.

Why these rankings matter now
The combination of strong Research.com placements and the upward movement in U.S. News rankings sends a clear message:

SAU is more than its crisis — SAU is its impact.
SAU is its students.
SAU is its future.

Continuing the Momentum: The Falcon Pride Initiative
The university invites alumni, supporters, and community partners to stand with SAU at this defining moment by contributing to the Falcon Pride Initiative, which directly supports student success, academic excellence, and long-term institutional sustainability.

Click here to support SAU’s Falcon Pride Initiative.