Monmouth University Achieves Highest Ranking Ever on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges List

Monmouth University continues to be recognized as a top-ranked institution, moving up two spots to No. 13 among the 2026 Regional Universities North evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. With its highest-ever ranking, Monmouth continues its trajectory of success, moving up 15 spots over the last six years. The 2026 edition of the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings evaluates more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities, using up to 17 factors to measure academic quality and graduate success.

Monmouth also notched top-25 rankings in the Most Innovative Schools (No. 18), Undergraduate Teaching Programs (No. 20), and Top Performers in Social Mobility (No. 23) categories. Additionally, Monmouth was recognized as a Best Value university, which U.S. News evaluates based on a school's academic quality and its true cost after need-based financial aid.

"This highest‐ever ranking underscores Monmouth's unique blend of excellence and access. What makes this recognition particularly meaningful is that it comes when Monmouth is growing both in prestige and inclusivity," Monmouth University President Patrick F. Leahysaid. "This is particularly evident in the Class of 2029, which is setting new benchmarks for incoming GPA, SAT scores, Honors School participation, as well as a historic share of first‐generation, low‐income, and Pell‐eligible students. We are proving that rigorous academics and expanded opportunity go hand in hand, and our one-year, 10-point jump on the U.S. News list of Top Performers in Social Mobility confirms we are on course."

U.S. News publishes the Best Colleges rankings each year to provide prospective students and their families with the comparative merits of the undergraduate programs at America's colleges and universities. The rankings offer detailed information of the institutions and data on factors such as graduation rates, graduate indebtedness and post-graduate earnings.