̳ is among the top 10 public schools in the Northeast, according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 rankings of “,” released Sept. 24.
The university sits at , which includes institutions in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and New England that offer a full range of undergraduate and master's degrees, but few, if any, doctoral programs. Among public schools in the region, ̳ is . ̳ is also ranked No. 17 on the “Best Value Regional Universities-North” list, which recognizes schools for both academic quality and affordability.
“We are pleased to be recognized as one of the nation’s top institutions by U.S. News,” said ̳ President Alberto Cardelle. “The U.S. News ranking reinforces that ̳ is the place to be for students seeking an inclusive academic community that focuses on offering excellent educational experiences, both in and out of the classroom, and the support they need to graduate and enter the workforce.”
Preparation for Success
To calculate the rankings, U.S. News used outcomes data ranging from first-to-second year retention and six-year graduation rates to average salaries, job placement rates, and the percentage of students who receive need-based grants and scholarships.
̳ has a strong track record of helping students graduate on time, with low debt, and preparing students for successful careers.
- ̳ students take 4.1 years, on average, to complete their degree.
- At 70%, our six-year graduation rate is above the national average for public institutions.
- Our strong alumni network helps students find and land jobs. Each year, dozens of alumni return to campus to speak with classes and share career advice. Through our Campus to Careers programs, students interested in business, theatre, music industry and political science travel to New York City or Washington, D.C., to meet with successful alumni at their places of business.
- ̳ graduates carry an average student loan debt of $24,363, well below the national average of $32,714 for four-year public institutions
Personalized, Real-World Learning
With small class sizes, accessible faculty, and an emphasis on learning by doing, ̳ offers many opportunities for personalized learning. Students get plenty of interaction with faculty members who are not just scholars and teachers, but also club advisers, research partners and mentors.
- Average class size: 21 students
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 15 to 1
- Each year, more than 150 students present research and creative projects undertaken with support from faculty mentors at spring and fall campus research showcase events.
- The university’s Career Development and Networking Center helps students find paid internships in their fields of study, providing hands-on experience, skills and connections to help them land their first job.
- During the 2023-24 academic year, dozens of students participated in faculty-led field experiences ranging from an international synthetic biology competition in Paris to a geology course in Southern California, to a trip to Los Angeles for the world’s largest music products trade show.
Value and Affordability
̳ offers a comprehensive financial aid program, including renewable need- and merit-based scholarships for first-year and transfer students. And, thanks to a strong philanthropy program managed by the ̳ Foundation, that support can extend throughout a student’s college career through endowed scholarships that recognize academic excellence and special funds to support experiential learning.
- ̳ awarded $7.7 million in merit- and need-based scholarships in 2023-24.
- The university awards more than $100,000 annually in student grants to support research and travel to professional conferences.
- More than 20 different scholarships are available for students who study abroad or participate in faculty-led field trips, and additional funds support off-campus internships.
- ̳’s Student Emergency Fund offers a safety net for students facing unforeseen financial hardships such as medical emergencies, theft or loss of employment.