Top 100 and Rising
When U.S. News & World Report released its 2026 college rankings, Susquehanna University reached a historic milestone: it broke into the top 100 national liberal arts colleges, landing at No. 96 for overall academic quality.
“It’s very rewarding to see Susquehanna recognized among the nation’s best,” says University President Jonathan Green. “It affirms the dedication of our faculty and staff and the achievements of our students. It is gratifying that as U.S. News has focused more on outcomes measures — the things that really matter — we have steadily risen in their rankings.”
In recent years, U.S. News has placed greater emphasis on student outcomes — especially graduation rates, social mobility, debt and success after graduation.
Additional recognition from Forbes and U.S. News highlights Susquehanna’s enduring focus on affordability and value. Forbes named the university one of the Top 25 Private Universities with Generous Financial Aid, while U.S. News ranked it among the Best Value Schools (No. 38), affirming the university’s strong return on investment.
These recognitions also reflect the generosity of Susquehanna’s alumni, President Green notes. “Their recent gifts have helped double the university’s endowment over the past decade and have greatly strengthened our endowment-to-student ratio,” he said. At the start of the fiscal year, the university’s endowment stood at $244 million.
Preparing Students for Success
Beyond national recognition for academic excellence and value, Susquehanna continues to make a measurable difference in the lives and careers of its graduates.
In the 2026 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse rankings, the university placed No. 191 for student success and quality of learning among all U.S. colleges, or within the top 7%.
A report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce ranked Susquehanna in the top 12% of U.S. colleges for graduate earnings, citing above-average lifetime earning potential for alumni. That data reinforces what many graduates already know: a Susquehanna education pays dividends for years to come.
“Our students leave here prepared not just for their first job, but for meaningful, adaptable careers,” says President Green. “The combination of strong academics, leadership development and global experience gives them an edge.”
Advancing Access and Opportunity
“Our community believes in the life-changing power of higher education,” says Vice President for Enrollment Justin Rummel. “That shared belief drives us to create affordable pathways to a Susquehanna degree — even for students who may have once thought college was out of reach.”
U.S. News ranked Susquehanna No. 139 for social mobility, highlighting its success in helping students rise economically, and also named it among the A+ Schools for B Students.
Similarly, the most recent New York Times College-Access Index placed Susquehanna among the Top 100 Colleges for Economic Diversity (No. 71), acknowledging the university’s strong enrollment of low- and middle-income students and its commitment to economic inclusion.
“Together, these distinctions reflect Susquehanna’s commitment to helping every student realize their full potential, regardless of where they start,” President Green adds. “We’re a community that believes in opportunity, excellence and impact.”
