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Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ surged 16 places to #45 overall among Regional Universities North in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings, making Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ the highest-ranked Northeastern Pennsylvania university in this category. Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ also debuted at #30 in the Top Private Universities list, making it the highest‑ranked Northeastern Pennsylvania private higher education institution, affirming Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥’s strong student outcomes, favorable class sizes, and robust institutional support.

The Regional Universities North category includes 155 institutions across 11 states and the District of Columbia and evaluates universities in relation to peers with similar academic missions, degree offerings, and geographic locations. Collectively, these rankings reflect Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥’s continued advancement as a high-quality, student-centered university distinguished by academic excellence, affordability, access, and strong support for students from enrollment through graduation.

“This significant rise reflects Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥’s remarkable momentum and the collective commitment of our faculty, staff, students, trustees, alumni, and supporters,” said Lisa A. Lori, J.D., President of Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥. “We are delivering an exceptional education, strengthening student outcomes, expanding opportunities, and demonstrating that academic quality and affordability can—and should—go hand in hand.”

The recognition comes as Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ welcomes the largest incoming domestic undergraduate class in its history. The Fall 2026 incoming class includes 822 students: 655 incoming full-time undergraduate students and an additional 167 graduate students. The first-year undergraduate class represents 22 states, approximately 65% of its members live on campus, and its average high school GPA is 3.55.

Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ also achieved significant gains in several additional U.S. News categories:

• #18 in Best Colleges for Veterans, an 11-place improvement from last year;
• #20 in Best Value Schools;
• #30 among Top Private Universities; and
• #93 among Top Performers on Social Mobility.

Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥’s rise to # 18 in Best Colleges for Veterans places the University among the top 20 Regional Universities North for academic quality and its financial and institutional support of military-connected students. Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ has consistently ranked among the top 30 institutions in this category. At #20 in Best Value Schools, Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ remains the highest-ranked four-year private university in Northeastern Pennsylvania included in the category. The ranking recognizes institutions that combine strong academic quality with affordability for students receiving need-based financial aid. U.S. News considers only institutions ranked in or near the top half of their overall categories for Best Value recognition.

Additionally, in the Top Performers on Social Mobility category, Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ ranked # 93 and was the only Northeastern Pennsylvania university to place in the top 100. This ranking recognizes institutions that successfully enroll and graduate students receiving federal Pell Grants while also considering graduate earnings and borrower debt.