Princeton University has once again been ranked the top university in the nation, according to the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. This marks the 14th consecutive year Princeton has held the No. 1 spot.
Six New Jersey universities placed in the top 100 national rankings. In addition to Princeton, Rutgers University-New Brunswick tied for 41st, and Stevens Institute of Technology tied for 76th. Rutgers-Newark, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Rutgers-Camden were ranked 80th, 84th, and 98th, respectively.
The rankings evaluated 1,500 institutions based on various academic criteria, emphasizing social mobility and post-graduate success. Princeton also topped the “best value schools” list and ranked sixth for undergraduate research opportunities.
Rutgers-Newark was noted for its performance in social mobility, ranking fifth in the nation. Other New Jersey schools, such as Saint Peter’s University and Berkeley College, were recognized for their economic diversity.
In regional rankings, The College of New Jersey was named the top university in the North region, while Stevens Institute was honored as the state’s leading STEM institution.
These rankings continue to affirm the state’s strength in higher education across diverse disciplines.