South Middlesex Times

Rutgers University has maintained its high standing in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report college rankings, with Rutgers-New Brunswick achieving its highest position ever as the #15 top public university in the nation for the second consecutive year.

Both Rutgers-Newark and Rutgers-Camden have also shown progress among the top 50 public universities. Rutgers-Newark moved up to #39 from #40 last year, while Rutgers-Camden advanced to #46 from #49.

All three campuses—Newark, Camden, and New Brunswick—are listed among the top 100 national universities. Specifically, Rutgers-New Brunswick ranks at #41 among all national universities, both public and private, out of nearly 1,500 institutions evaluated this year. Additionally, Rutgers-Newark is ranked at #80 and Rutgers-Camden at #98.

Since 2021, there has been a notable upward trend in rankings for all three locations. Over this period, Rutgers-New Brunswick has climbed 22 spots in national university rankings; Rutgers-Newark has risen by 38 spots; and Rutgers-Camden by 55 spots.

“This exciting news affirms that Rutgers is continuing its rise and earning the distinction and respect it deserves. Our newest rankings reflect our unwavering commitment to academic excellence and the incredible work we are doing to make a Rutgers education more accessible while providing strong support for our accomplished students,” said President Jonathan Holloway.

The university's performance in social mobility rankings also improved across all campuses. Social mobility measures how well schools enroll and graduate economically disadvantaged students. This year, Rutgers-Newark is ranked #5 (up from #21), Rutgers-Camden is at #15 (up from #35), and Rutgers-New Brunswick is at #36 (up from #42).

Pell graduation rates are part of social mobility assessments. All three campuses rank within the top 25: Rutgers-Newark at #12, Rutgers-Camden at #21, and Rutgers-New Brunswick at #25.

Among Big Ten Conference public universities, Rutgers-New Brunswick holds the fifth position.

The 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings were based on 17 key measures of academic quality for national universities with an emphasis on social mobility and outcomes for graduating students.

“Our rankings send a clear message that we are focused on what is most important at Rutgers: academic excellence,” said Holloway. “The incredible growth in our standing over the last few years reinforces Rutgers’ well-deserved reputation as a preeminent public university.”