by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in the Middle Atlantic Region, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **400** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 400 colleges across over 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Your ideal college depends on your goals. Narrow your list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our tool College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Georgetown University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in Washington, DC, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Georgetown University posts a six-year graduation rate of 95%. Students from in state pay about $68,089 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $79,632. The median student debt is $16,483.
You'll be in good company at Johns Hopkins University, which ranked #2 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Baltimore, MD. Johns Hopkins University posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. Students from in state pay about $64,730 in tuition and fees. Johns Hopkins University graduates report median early-career earnings of $84,850. Graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the top colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region. Based in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $99,682. Typical student debt is $16,155.
Out of the 400 colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region in this year's ranking, Cornell University landed the #4 spot. Located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. In-state tuition and fees average $69,314. Early-career graduates earn a median of $75,976. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 400 colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region in this year's ranking, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #5 spot. This public school is set in University Park, PA. About 86% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students.
Carnegie Mellon University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Set in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. In-state tuition and fees average $65,636. Median early-career earnings reach $89,327. The median student debt is $23,529.
University Of Maryland Baltimore ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Baltimore, MD. In-state tuition and fees average $13,638, compared with $44,811 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $85,300. Typical student debt is $21,500.
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in College Park, MD, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. University Of Maryland College Park posts a six-year graduation rate of 89%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,901. The median student debt is $20,836.
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $86,770. The median student debt is $23,258.
George Washington University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Washington, DC, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,710. Early-career graduates earn a median of $73,749. Typical student debt is $22,910.
New York University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in New York, NY, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $64,516. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete a degree here.
Villanova University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Villanova University is a private not-for-profit school based in Villanova, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. In-state tuition and fees average $67,776. Early-career graduates earn a median of $72,601. Typical student debt is $26,184.
Princeton University did well this year, earning the #13 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Princeton, NJ. Princeton University posts a six-year graduation rate of 98%. In-state tuition and fees run about $62,688. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $67,532. The median student debt is $10,888.
Lehigh University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in Bethlehem, PA, Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit institution. Lehigh University graduates 88% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $64,980 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,321. Typical student debt is $23,008.
Colgate University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Set in Hamilton, NY, Colgate University is a private not-for-profit institution. Colgate University graduates 91% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $70,306 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $52,924. Graduates carry a median of $16,286 in student loans.
Suny Downstate Medical Center came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Suny Downstate Medical Center is a public school based in Brooklyn, NY. Students from in state pay about $7,822 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,662 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $100,079. Typical student debt is $24,882.
Lafayette College landed the #17 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. Set in Easton, PA, Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. In-state tuition and fees average $64,648. Median early-career earnings reach $59,513. The median student debt is $16,931.
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #18 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. Set in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. In-state tuition and fees average $17,929, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. Median early-career earnings reach $58,402. Graduates carry a median of $25,120 in student loans.
Stevens Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #19 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hoboken, NJ. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Students from in state pay about $63,462 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $87,055. Graduates carry a median of $26,767 in student loans.
University Of Delaware landed the #20 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. Set in Newark, DE, University Of Delaware is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,810, compared with $41,400 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,155. Graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans.
The College Of New Jersey ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. The College Of New Jersey is a public school based in Ewing, NJ. The College Of New Jersey graduates 86% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $19,632, compared with $25,752 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,617. The median student debt is $24,429.
Barnard College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Based in New York, NY, Barnard College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $69,888. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,790 early in their careers. The median student debt is $17,609.
American University placed #23 among the best colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region. Based in Washington, DC, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. American University posts a six-year graduation rate of 76%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,771. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,585. Typical student debt is $24,139.
Hamilton College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Clinton, NY. Hamilton College graduates 91% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $68,960 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,806 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,131 to complete a degree here.
Bucknell University did well this year, earning the #25 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lewisburg, PA. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $67,812 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,331 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,951 to complete a degree here.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
Click any college name below to learn more:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Phillips Beth Israel School Of Nursing | New York, NY |
| 52 | Weill Cornell Medical College | New York, NY |
| 53 | Cuny Bernard M Baruch College | New York, NY |
| 54 | Seton Hall University | South Orange, NJ |
| 55 | Thomas Jefferson University | Philadelphia, PA |
| 56 | Albert Einstein College Of Medicine | Bronx, NY |
| 57 | Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs, NY |
| 58 | Rochester Institute Of Technology | Rochester, NY |
| 59 | University Of Scranton | Scranton, PA |
| 60 | Haverford College | Haverford, PA |
These schools also stood out this year:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Temple University | Philadelphia, PA |
| 62 | Vassar College | Poughkeepsie, NY |
| 63 | Adelphi University | Garden City, NY |
| 64 | University At Buffalo | Buffalo, NY |
| 65 | Ramapo College Of New Jersey | Mahwah, NJ |
| 66 | Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown, PA |
| 67 | Gettysburg College | Gettysburg, PA |
| 68 | Teachers College At Columbia University | New York, NY |
| 69 | Salisbury University | Salisbury, MD |
| 70 | Rutgers University Camden | Camden, NJ |
| 71 | Siena College | Loudonville, NY |
| 72 | Union College New York | Schenectady, NY |
| 73 | Relay Graduate School Of Education | New York, NY |
| 74 | Albany College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences | Albany, NY |
| 75 | Lebanon Valley College | Annville, PA |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 76 | Suny College At Oneonta | Oneonta, NY |
| 77 | Monmouth University | West Long Branch, NJ |
| 78 | Widener University Main Campus | Chester, PA |
| 79 | Rider University | Lawrenceville, NJ |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.