Galloway, N.J. — Stockton University is in the top 10 of public regional universities in the North, including No. 1 in New Jersey for social mobility and veterans, according to the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best College Rankings released today.

Stockton is No. 8 among 48 schools in the Top Public Schools – Regional Universities (North) category and second in New Jersey. The university is also No. 19 among 155 schools in the Regional Universities (North) ranking and second in New Jersey.

Stockton was No. 5 in Best Colleges for Veterans and No. 15 for Social Mobility in the regional universities North rankings.

The Social Mobility ranking evaluates how successfully Stockton enrolls and graduates economically disadvantaged students, particularly those awarded federal Pell Grants, which are generally awarded to undergraduate students with significant financial need. Stockton’s 72% six-year graduation rate for Pell recipients is nearly double the national average of 39.1%.

“These rankings are a wonderful reflection of the work happening every day at Stockton to create opportunities for our students and help them succeed,” said Stockton President Joe Bertolino. “I’m especially proud of our commitment to veterans and to first-generation and low-income students. Stockton is a place where they, and all students, can thrive and leave us empowered to soar.”

Bertolino added that rankings are only one measure of the university’s progress. To meet growing student demand, Stockton recently created new certificate programs in entrepreneurship and business management fundamentals in hospitality. The school recently cut the ribbon on a $24 million renovation of the Richard E. Bjork Library and Learning Commons and announced a partnership with AtlantiCare to expand health education and workforce pathways through the College of Community Health in Atlantic City.

“All of these efforts reflect who we are as a university — a community of opportunity committed to meeting students where they are and giving them the tools and support they need to flourish,” he said.

Stockton has a long history of supporting military veterans and has been recognized for three consecutive years as a Top 10 school nationally in the Military Friendly Schools survey.

In July, Money magazine awarded Stockton four out of five stars for the fifth straight year in its Best Colleges in America rankings. In August, Washington Monthly ranked Stockton No. 41 out of 393 in its Northeast Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars list and No. 130 out of 1,504 nationally. Time, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal and the Princeton Review have also included Stockton in their national rankings this year.

Stockton offers more than 160 undergraduate and graduate programs while maintaining a strong commitment to experiential learning, undergraduate research, internships and community engagement. 

-- Story by Mark Melhorn, photo by Susan Allen