Fisk University Earns Top HBCU Ranking in Tennessee, Advances in Social Mobility and Excellence Rankings

U.S. News and World Report ranked Fisk #10 among private HBCUs, #20 among all HBCUs nationwide and #14 in Top Universities for Social Mobility.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 22, 2026) – Fisk University has been recognized as Tennessee’s Top Ranking Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the 2027 U.S. News and World Report College Rankings. This recognition underscores Fisk’s longtime commitment to student success and academic excellence and further highlights the institution’s accelerating upward trajectory.

Fisk ranked #20 among all HBCUs nationwide, up from #22 last year, and secured the #10 spot among private HBCUs. The university also jumped 21 spots to rank #14 in Top Performers on Social Mobility.

This impressive rise in social mobility rankings demonstrates the university’s exceptional ability to advance the social mobility of disadvantaged students through education access and workforce preparation. The advanced ranking builds on Fisk’s founding mission, established in 1866, to educate and empower all who seek higher learning.

The U.S. News and World Report rankings come on the heels of Forbes’ recent naming of Fisk as a Top private HBCU and the resumption of full accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) in December 2025.

“We are incredibly proud to see our national rankings rise,” said Dr. Agenia W. Clark, President of Fisk University. “At Fisk, our mission is to foster well-rounded, scholarly and principled leaders who go on to make substantive contributions to society. Our current rankings illustrate exactly what this historic institution stands for: unlocking doors for our students and equipping them to transform the world.”

As the first HBCU in the nation to earn regional accreditation and Nashville’s first institution of higher education, these leaps in national standing reflect the dedication of the university’s faculty and leadership in supporting Fisk students from enrollment to graduation and beyond.

The institution remains steadfast in its commitment to a stronger Fisk University for the next 160 years, ensuring Fisk continues to open doors for more students for generations to come.

For more information about Fisk University and its vision for its next 160 years, please visit Fisk.edu/QuantumLeap.

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About Fisk University

Fisk University, a highly ranked historically Black university, is the oldest institution of higher learning in Nashville, Tennessee. Fisk’s outstanding faculty and students enhance the university’s international reputation for academic excellence. A Fisk education prepares students to serve their communities and become well-rounded leaders and scholars in their respective fields. Fisk offers more than 20 undergraduate and graduate programs in biology, chemistry, physics and clinical psychology. For more information, visit Fisk.edu.

For media inquiries, contact:

Maya Brown, Fisk University

Mcbrown@fisk.edu