In 2016, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth received its new designated status from
Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as "Doctoral University: Higher research activity". In the 2020 college ranking published by
The Wall Street Journal and
Times Higher Education, UMass Dartmouth was featured among top 800 of all public and private higher education institutions in the country, while
Business Insider listed the university in 2014 among its 600 "Smartest Colleges in America" based on
ACT and
SAT scores of the entering students.
The Princeton Review lists the university among their most 361 "Green Colleges" of the country. UMass Dartmouth is
accredited by the
New England Commission of Higher Education. Other rankings and recognition: • In 2017, the university ranked #204 by
PayScale by salary potential for 2016–2017. • In 2019, the university ranked #76 in "Best Online Graduate Business Programs (Excluding MBA)", #41-#51 in "Best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs" and #132-#170 in "Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs" by
U.S. News & World Report. • In 2019, the university ranked #7 in College Gazette's top 10 "hidden gem" public universities in the United States. • In 2021, the university ranked #217 in "Best National Universities", #76 in "Top Performers on Social Mobility", #109 in "Top Public Schools", and #145 in "Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs". • In 2021,
Academic Ranking of World Universities listed academic subject in Oceanography as 76–100 globally. • In 2024,
U.S. News and World Report ranked the school #209 in national universities, #112 in top public schools, and #196 in best value schools. • In 2025,
U.S. News and World Report ranked the school #244 in national universities, #135 in top public schools, #139 for Engineering, #74 for Nursing, #126 for Computer Science, #147 for Business programs, and #102 for social mobility ==Notable alumni==