Stockton University is in the Top 15 public Regional Universities of the North, ranked at #12 by U.S. News & World Report in its 2016 edition of “America’s Best Colleges” released Sept. 9, 2015.
 
Stockton also was ranked overall at #53 out of 138 public and private Northern universities by U.S. News & World Report, one of the nation’s top sources of information on higher education.

“Stockton has been ranked as a top tier public institution for eight straight years,” said Interim President Harvey Kesselman, “a record that reflects the extraordinary achievements of our students, faculty, staff and alumni. As we enter our first full year as a university, we are proud to be recognized as a special place that offers students small class sizes, opportunities for faculty-mentored research and a beautiful campus in the Pinelands National Reserve - all the value of an elite private institution at an affordable public price.”

Stockton is ranked with universities offering both undergraduate and master’s programs in the northern region of the United States. Stockton offers a total of 14 master’s and doctoral programs, including a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership set to launch in January. 

The annual report considers factors such as graduation and retention rates, assessment by peers, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving. Stockton’s graduation and retention rates have been rising impressively, with 87 percent of the freshmen who started in 2013 returning in 2014, the most recent year for which figures are available. Stockton also has a total of 321 full-time faculty members this year, up from 304 last year, with over 90 percent of the faculty holding the highest degree available on their field.

Stockton was also recognized as one of the “Best Colleges for Veterans” by U.S. News & World Report, which ranked it as #39 out of the schools ranked in the Regional Universities of the North.

The rating is designed to provide military veterans and active-duty service members with information about which top-ranked schools offer them the most benefits and support for pursuing a college education. 

Stockton’s program, founded in 2008, serves over 400 veterans and service members. Through the Office of Veteran Affairs, veterans and service members can explore eligibility for G.I. education benefits, receive referrals to a wide range of support services and connect with their fellow veterans by becoming a part of Stockton’s Student Veterans Organization.