When high school juniors and their families begin looking for a University, they rely on college counselors, the advice of neighbors and friends, and more now than ever, they dig into data and reviews.
In recent years, families have been incorporating rankings from sources like U.S. News & World Report, Money Magazine and other publications to help narrow their choices. These nationally recognized resources rank and rate colleges for a number of attributes such as quality of education, affordability, engagement and outcomes.
St. Joseph’s University, New York’s profile is on the rise in these popular tools used by prospective students.
This fall, SJNY rose five spots in U.S. News & World Report’s list of best universities for 2026, and was named one of Money’s Best Colleges in America.
Additionally, SJNY has also had impressive results published in Colleges of Distinction.
“Over the past several years, SJNY’s rankings have consistently risen, placing us as one of the top schools in our category for Long Island and the New York metropolitan region,” said SJNY President Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D.
Moving Up Among Top Regional Universities
SJNY was once again named one of the nation’s top universities by U.S. News & World Report. For more than a decade, St. Joseph’s has ranked among the nation’s top universities in the Regional Universities–North category by the publication.
Landing at #50 of top universities, SJNY was ranked among other universities in categories such as graduation and retention rates; graduation rate performance; financial resources per student; graduates’ earning potential and peer assessments. SJNY also earned the #23 spot among Best Colleges for Veterans in the Regional Universities-North category.
“We are especially pleased at our success this year having improved another five spots from last year by earning the #50 spot on the list, which further confirms the dedication of our talented faculty and staff and ongoing commitment to academic excellence,’ Dr. Boomgaarden added.
Money’s Best Colleges
SJNY has been named one of Money’s Best Colleges in America, earning 4.5 stars (in a 5-star scale) in the comprehensive rating process.
“I am thrilled to be listed among some of the top-tiered educational institutions in the country for these rankings, which are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our excellent faculty and staff,” Boomgarden shared when the rating was released. “Our high-quality, practical programs and focus on core values provide today’s students the best chance possible for financial success and, most importantly, give them the tools they need for a life of fulfillment and a meaningful career.”
To compose this list of Best Colleges in America, Money evaluated colleges and universities based on their quality of education, affordability, financial aid, and outcomes for alumni.
The Money list included more than 700 institutions.
A College of Distinction
SJNY was also named a 2025-2026 College of Distinction.
Since 2000, Colleges of Distinction evaluates schools on four distinctions: engagement, teaching, community and outcomes to highlight institutions with engaged students, dedicated faculty, vibrant communities and successful outcomes, such as high graduation rates and strong alumni networks. The recognition also emphasizes a strong commitment to high-impact educational practices and personalized learning.
Colleges of Distinction says it has been a resource for more than 5 million students, parents and guidance counselors, helping students “find not just the ‘best college,’ but the right college.”
Offering small class sizes (12:1 student-to-faculty ratio), a vibrant student life, robust programs, experiential learning opportunities and commitment to compassionate service to others, SJNY’s commitment to keeping costs down and standards high means its tuition rates are among the lowest of private colleges and universities in the region, allowing students to earn a degree of value at an affordable cost.
