#84 in the country, #72 in value, #7 in social mobility
September 2025 – Drew University has maintained its status as one of U.S. News & World Report‘s top 100 schools in their latest rankings.
In their 2026 Best Colleges list of national liberal arts schools, Drew ranked tied for 84, marking the third-straight year in the top 100. Drew remains the only New Jersey liberal arts school in the top 100.
In addition to the overall ranking, U.S. News placed Drew 72nd on their Best Value Schools list, the first time Drew has made the top 75 in several years. The best value ranking echoes similar praise from The Princeton Review, which recently included Drew in their selective Best Value Colleges 2025 list.
The Best Value rankings are based on a school’s academic quality—captured in a school’s overall ranking—and the true cost of attendance, accounting for need-based financial aid.
“We are thrilled to again be named a top 100 liberal arts school by U.S. News, and just as pleased to be recognized for providing one of the best values in the country,” said President Hilary L. Link, PhD. “We strive to not only offer an exceptional education at Drew, but one that is innovative, accessible, and allows us to teach and graduate a diverse student body.”
U.S. News also placed Drew seventh in the country for social mobility, up one spot after last year’s eighth-place finish. The metric recognizes colleges for enrolling and graduating Pell-eligible students at a high rate.
The social mobility ranking mirrors Washington Monthly, which ranked Drew 38th in their outcomes ranking, which measures academic and financial outcomes provided to students, taking into account affordability and graduation rate gaps between wealthy and nonwealthy students.
