For the fourth year in a row, Stockton University continues to stand out in national collegiate rankings, particularly for its high graduation rates of low-income students.
Stockton ranked No. 84 out of 225 public colleges and universities in the nation and No. 158 out of 434 on the Best National Universities list in the U.S. News & World Report rankings that were released Tuesday.
U.S. News & World Report also recognized Stockton as one of the top 40 national universities for social mobility, which is based on enrolling and graduating low-income students. The university was listed at No. 38, an increase of 18 spots from last year’s list.
Other higher education websites have also recently recognized Stockton for its accomplishments. The Chronicle of Higher Education ranked Stockton among the Top 50 public universities nationally for graduation rates of Pell Grant-eligible students.
Pell Grants are a federal indicator of financial need. Stockton’s 72% six-year graduation rate for Pell recipients is nearly double the national average of 39.1%.
“Stockton is proving that a public education can unlock real opportunity and upward mobility,” said President Joe Bertolino. “This national recognition affirms what we already know: Stockton is a community of opportunity where first-generation and low-income students are not only welcomed, but they also thrive, succeed, and leave us empowered to soar.”
Stockton has also established itself as one of the best universities in the country for veterans and their spouses. U.S. News & World Report placed Stockton No. 112 out of 174 national universities in the Best Colleges for Veterans rankings. Earlier this year, Stockton was selected No. 10 among small public schools nationwide in the 2025-26 Military Friendly School survey and No. 5 in the country in the Military Spouse Friendly Survey.
Other recent accomplishments for the university include Washington Monthly selecting Stockton No. 57 (out of 369) in its Best Bang for the Buck rankings in the Northeast and No. 117 (out of 1,421 schools) for Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars.
Money magazine listed Stockton as one of its Best Colleges, giving the university four out of five stars, and the Wall Street Journal and the Princeton Review both included the university in their 2025 college rankings.
Stockton University offers more than 160 undergraduate and graduate programs to the 9,000 students it has enrolled on its main campus in the 1,600-acre main campus in the Galloway Township and its coastal campus in Atlantic City.
