September 23, 2026 – Marist University has reached new heights across U.S. News & World Report rankings, moving to No. 6 among Best Regional Universities North while also improving its rankings on academic quality, student success, and institutional performance, including Most Innovative Schools.

This is the University’s highest placement ever among Regional Universities North, up from No. 9 last year. It marks Marist's best showing in the category and continues a steady climb: Marist has moved up or held its position in the ranking every year since 2023, when it placed No. 11.

Marist also posted gains across several other categories.

The University jumped from No. 18 to No. 6 among Most Innovative Schools and is now ranked No. 2 for Best Undergraduate Teaching, a category that reflects faculty's commitment to undergraduate instruction. And Marist debuted at No. 5 on U.S. News' new Top Private Universities in the North list, a category introduced for the first time this year.

In fact, Marist charted gains on every single list it appeared in as part of the rankings.

The 2027 methodology introduces a new Earnings by Major measure, which compares graduates’ earnings within their fields of study four years after graduation. The change places greater emphasis on post-graduation outcomes and the value students receive from their education. 

U.S. News' Best Colleges rankings evaluate schools using factors including academic reputation, graduation and retention rates, social mobility, faculty resources, and financial resources.

Marist continued to make gains in key measures of student success, including higher retention and graduation outcomes. The University also increased the share of full-time faculty.