The Princeton Review Names Monmouth University One of the Nation’s Best Colleges for 2027

For more than 20 years, Monmouth University has been highlighted annually by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's academically best undergraduate institutions. The education services company again profiles Monmouth in this year's edition of its college ranking guide, "The Best 392 Colleges" (Penguin Random House, 2026), a distinction held by only about 14% of America's nearly 2,800 four-year colleges.

"We are delighted to name Monmouth University one of our Best Colleges for 2027 and we recommend it to students searching for their 'best-fit' college," said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review's editor-in-chief and lead author of "The Best 392 Colleges." "We took into account the candid feedback we received about it from its very own customers-its enrolled students," he added.

The company selected colleges based on its surveys of 2,000 administrators about their institutions' academic offerings, as well as surveys of current students who report on their experiences at their institutions. This is Monmouth's 22nd straight year being featured in the publication.

Student feedback collected by The Princeton Review describes Monmouth's campus environment as "extremely diverse and integrated," where "many look to get involved, be a part of the student body, and find ways to encourage each other." Monmouth students were enthusiastic about campus' proximity to the shore and local shopping districts, as well as the popular common areas and activities on campus, which regularly include "fairs, movie nights, bingo nights, breakfast for dinner, homecoming, and Springfest."

The profile also praises Monmouth for its transformative learning and career preparation, including experiential education, free tutoring, and study abroad. The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music, among other Centers of Distinction, conferences, and panels, are also mentioned by students as opportunities to "engage with experts in their field, explore cutting-edge research and ideas, and network with professionals and peers." With a low student-to-faculty ratio and personalized education philosophy, Monmouth also offers strong faculty relationships, with one participant sharing, "What I once thought was a dream career is within reach because of [my professors'] efforts and encouragement."

The annual publication also contains 50 categories of ranking lists, each naming the top 25 schools in a particular category. The rankings are entirely based on the company's surveys of students attending the 392 profiled schools. Surveys of 172,000 students (about 439 per school on average) were tallied for the rankings in "The Best 392 Colleges." Monmouth also appears on the ranking list for Best Northeast schools.

"The Best 392 Colleges" is the 35th annual edition of The Princeton Review's flagship college guide which debuted in 1992. It is one of more than 150 Princeton Review books in a line published by Penguin Random House.