St. John’s University Steadily Climbs U.S. News & World Report Rankings

St. John’s University is among this year’s top national universities, according to a new ranking by U.S. News & World Report. In the just-released “U.S. News Best Colleges,” St. John’s University advanced to #166 on the list of national universities.

The steady climb in the U.S. News & World Report rankings is an external affirmation of the clear commitment by the University to ensure student success. Since 2020, St. John’s ranking has jumped from #179 in the 2020 edition to #166 currently.

“St. John’s University provides an education that elevates,” expressed Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., President. “The rankings by U.S. News & World Report demonstrate the powerful value of a St. John’s education while emphasizing the transformative and uplifting impact of our influence on social mobility.”

St. John’s also garnered national accolades for “Top Performers on Social Mobility,” “Best Undergraduate Business Programs,” “Best Colleges for Veterans,” “Best Value Schools,” and “Best Undergraduate Insurance Programs.” 

The University is now ranked #41 for “Top Performers on Social Mobility” (of national universities); is ranked #164 in “Best Undergraduate Business Programs”; advanced to #111 for “Best Colleges for Veterans” (up from #140); is ranked #190 on the list of “Best Value Schools”; and has the #7-ranked (up from #8) “Best Undergraduate Insurance Programs” in the country in the Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science.

According to U.S. News & World Report, “A total of 1,500 colleges and universities were ranked this year, with more than 1,850 schools reporting most of the data to U.S. News in an annual survey. Data was collected from schools in spring and summer of 2022, and ACT and SAT scores reflect testing periods from 2020 to 2021.”

U.S. News assesses colleges and universities based on 17 metrics of academic quality, with the most weight placed on outcome measures, such as graduation and retention rates and average graduate indebtedness. Average class size, undergraduate academic reputation, and how much colleges invest in instruction and student services are among the other data points U.S. News collected to develop the latest set of rankings.

Ranked #41 overall for social mobility, St. John’s University is the foremost Catholic institution in New York State and in the top two Catholic universities in the nation on this list. Social mobility measures how well schools graduate students who receive federal Pell Grants—typically from households earning less than $50,000 annually.

U.S. News uses a distinct social mobility ranking for all ranked schools. The social mobility ranking is computed by aggregating two factors: Pell graduation rates and Pell graduation performance.

“The measure of our mission is how much we change students’ lives,” shared Rev. Aidan R. Rooney, C.M., M.Div., M.Th. ’78NDC, Executive Vice President for Mission. “The empowering work of our mission continues.”

“Rankings enable mission-driven institutions of higher education like St. John’s to take a measure of ourselves and to evaluate our strengths and opportunities for growth,” remarked Simon G. Møller, Ph.D., Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, University Distinguished Professor, and Provost Endowed Chair. “At St. John’s, we continue to forge ahead on an upward trajectory of academic excellence and opportunity.”