Sep 23, 2025 - News
Philly-area schools rise in Best Colleges rankings
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UPenn is climbing the list of the nation's top-ranked schools, per the U.S. News & World Report — up three spots from the 2025 rankings.
The big picture: The annual Best Colleges report is one of the most influential and controversial rankings of colleges nationwide.
- And since 2023, its methodology weighs outcomes — like graduation rates, student debt and earnings — more than ever before.
State of play: Pennsylvania had seven schools among the top 100 on the 2026 list, including Villanova and Drexel.
- Drexel saw one of the biggest jumps among area schools, rising six spots to No. 80, while Penn State rose four spots to No. 50.
- Villanova was tied at No. 57, up one spot.
- Temple University, at No. 102, fell four slots from the 2025 list and into an eight-way tie with schools such as Auburn and Gonzaga, per the rankings.
The intrigue: Pennsylvania schools also star on the report's more niche rankings.
Case in point: Susquehanna University and Lycoming College were among several schools added to the top 100 top liberal arts colleges.
- In addition to rising to No. 20 on the top 100 universities list, Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University is considered the nation's fourth-most innovative school, per the rankings.
- University of Pittsburgh rose a single spot to No. 69 on the list.