Wagner College has climbed 25 places in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, rising to No. 45 among Regional Universities in the North in the publication’s 2027 edition.
The new ranking, released Sept. 22, represents a significant jump for Wagner, which was No. 70 in the category last year.
Wagner also made substantial gains in U.S. News’ measure of social mobility, rising 28 places to No. 114 among Regional Universities in the North. The social mobility ranking assesses how well colleges graduate those students who receive federal Pell Grants, which are generally awarded to students from lower-income households.
“This is gratifying recognition of the work that has been taking place across campus, and the momentum we have created,” President Jeffrey A. Doggett said. “Moving 25 places in a national ranking doesn’t happen because of any one initiative or any one group of people. It reflects the collective work of our faculty and staff, the accomplishments of our students and graduates, the reputation of our alumni, and the growing strength of the institution.”
The 2027 rankings also place Wagner at No. 30 among private colleges in the Regional Universities North category, a new U.S. News designation. Wagner was ranked No. 52 among Best Value Schools in the region, essentially unchanged from No. 51 last year. Wagner’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program also continued its upward movement in the national rankings, climbing six places from No. 249 to No. 243.
Doggett said he was particularly encouraged by the gains in Wagner’s overall and social mobility rankings.
“A Wagner education has always been about more than earning a degree,” Doggett said. “Our mission is to help students build lives of purpose and opportunity, regardless of where they begin. The improvement in our social mobility ranking is one more indication that we are delivering on that promise.”
The latest recognition comes as Wagner is welcoming its largest incoming class and largest overall enrollment in at least eight years, providing further evidence of momentum at the college.
The U.S. News results add to a series of national recognitions for Wagner this fall. The Princeton Review again selected Wagner for its annual guide to the nation’s best colleges; the publication does not rank the institutions in that overall list. Washington Monthly also recognized Wagner in its 2026 college rankings, which assess institutions on access, affordability, student outcomes and contributions to public service. Together, the rankings offer different measures of an institution’s performance but point to a common theme: Wagner’s continuing focus on student opportunity, achievement and success. Read more about Wagner’s national recognition.
