Penn College maintains high U.S. News & World Report rankings
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Pennsylvania College of Technology has been ranked the No. 1 school for innovation for the third consecutive year, No. 1 for veteran students for the second consecutive year and the No. 3 top public school in the Regional Colleges (North) classification by U.S. News & World Report for 2026. Penn College also moved from No. 5 in 2025 to the No. 4 school in 2026 among Regional Colleges (North) when all public and private colleges and universities are considered.
The 2026 edition of the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings evaluates more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities, using up to 17 factors to measure academic quality and graduate success.
“We are honored to be continually recognized so prominently by U.S. News & World Report,” said President Michael J. Reed. “Our goal is to place our students in the most competitive position for long-term success, and these rankings affirm the value of our distinctive, hands-on, industry-informed approach to education. With a 98% graduate placement rate, it’s clear that our model delivers strong outcomes and a meaningful return on investment for our students and their families.”
U.S. News publishes the Best Colleges rankings each year to provide prospective students and their families with the comparative merits of the undergraduate programs at America’s colleges and universities. The rankings offer detailed information of the institutions and data on factors such as graduation rates, graduate indebtedness and post-graduate earnings.
Penn College earned Best Colleges badges for its high performance in the following categories:
- Most Innovative Schools – Regional Colleges (North), No. 1
- Best Colleges for Veterans – Regional Colleges (North), No. 1
- Top Public Schools – Regional Colleges (North), No. 3
- Regional Colleges (North), No. 4
In U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Colleges rankings, Pennsylvania College of Technology is the No. 1 school both for innovation and veteran students, as well as the No. 3 top public school – all in the Regional Colleges (North) classification.
“U.S. News’ Best Colleges remains a reliable resource for prospective students and their families as they navigate the college selection process,” said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor for Education at U.S. News. “With over half of the ranking factors dedicated to student outcomes, the rankings and editorial content provide vital data, college advice and informed reporting to every student pursuing higher education.”
Prospective students can see how Penn College compares to other institutions and how the rankings are calculated on USNews.com.
For more information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education and a special mission affiliate of Penn State, visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll free 800-367-9222.
About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers, and consumer products and services.