Nazareth climbs in the U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best College rankings

Nazareth University is a top performer in the U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best College rankings, moving up 10 spots from last year to No. 44 in the Best Regional Universities North. 

For its strong commitment to helping economically disadvantaged students earn college degrees, Nazareth climbed 11 spots to No. 92 among Top Performers on Social Mobility.

“Accessibility and affordability for all students is extremely important to Nazareth University, and we are proud to see U.S. News & World Report recognizing our hard work by moving Nazareth up in the rankings as a top school that is committed to working with each family to make a college degree possible,” said Danielle Bucci, Nazareth’s vice president for strategic enrollment, marketing, and communications.

Nazareth stands at No. 33 in regional rankings as one of the Best Value Schools. U.S. News evaluates a school's academic quality and the net cost of attendance for an out-of-state student who received the average level of need-based financial aid. The higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the value.

Best College for Veterans: Nazareth moved up five spots to No. 18 among the top-ranked schools in Best Regional Universities North that participate in federal initiatives helping veterans and active-duty service members pay for their degrees.

Nazareth University excels in other recent rankings
Nazareth is proud of other recent accolades and rankings that showcase the University’s commitment to student success while making a Nazareth education affordable and accessible.

College Raptor’s Hidden Gem in the Mid-East U.S.
Nazareth University is one of three colleges in New York state selected as a 2025 Hidden Gem by College Raptor, a leading college planning platform that helps families discover the best colleges at the best price.   

The Hidden Gem lists spotlights best-kept-secret colleges and universities that provide students with exceptional programs and a high-quality academic experience. Factors including retention rates, graduation rates, student-to-faculty ratio, endowment per student, selectivity, and other metrics are considered.

Princeton Review’s “Best 390 Colleges for 2025”

Nazareth is proud to be on the list for the 17th consecutive year as one of the country's best institutions for undergraduate education according to The Princeton Review. Nazareth is featured in The Princeton Review’s annual guide The Best 390 Colleges: 2025 Edition.

2024 Washington Monthly College Guide
Nazareth is No. 188 among nearly 600 Best Master's Universities by the 2024 Washington Monthly College Guide and Rankings based on contributions to social mobility, research, and public service. Nazareth also made the list for the 2024 Best Bang for the Buck Rankings: Northeast — an exclusive list of schools ranked according to how well they help non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices.

Money’s Best Colleges 2024
Money Magazine has named Nazareth University to its list of the 2024 America’s Best Colleges. Money analyzed the nation’s top 745 colleges and considered 26 data points, including graduation rates, cost of attendance, and alumni salaries, to help students find a campus right for them with a good return on investment. 

Wall Street Journal 2025 Best Colleges in America
Nazareth made the list of the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. that rates the top 500 universities in the country. Nazareth scored high marks in character development —  a student survey says the university has developed character strengths that will help them to make a meaningful contribution to society, including moral courage, hopefulness, resilience, wisdom and a sense of justice.

2024-25 College of Distinction
Nazareth is among a select group of top colleges and universities across the country hand-picked to earn a 2024-2025 Best Colleges of Distinction designation for its commitment to exceptional undergraduate education. Nazareth also has earned recognition in each of these 2024-25 Colleges of Distinction areas: Top Business Colleges of Distinction,Top Education College of Distinction,Top Nursing Colleges of Distinction,Career Development College of Distinction, Equity and Inclusion College of Distinction, Military Support College of Distinction.

Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.

Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.

• published: 2024 September
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