Advancing four places from last year, Marywood University is now ranked #18 Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings for 2025, making Marywood a great, centrally located option for students in Northeastern Pennsylvania who want to stay closer to home.
Additionally, Marywood is the only local university on the “Best Colleges for Veterans” (Regional Universities North), ranked at #18. On the “Best Regional Universities North” list, Marywood advanced six places, to a solid #44 ranking overall. This notable placement among institutions from seven states demonstrates Marywood’s enduring quality and consistency as a higher education provider in the region. Ranked at #64 in Top Performers on Social Mobility, Marywood is counted among those institutions that are more successful than others at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants.
Marywood University also has earned impressive placements, both nationally and statewide, in the 2025 Niche College Rankings. Niche, the leading platform connecting students and families with colleges and schools, compared Marywood with thousands of institutions nationwide and hundreds of institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania.
Marywood University earned high marks in a number of categories, most notably:
- Best Colleges for Architecture in America (#40)
- Best Colleges for Education in Pennsylvania (#15)
- Best Catholic Colleges in America (#51) and in Pennsylvania (#5)
- Top Private Universities in Pennsylvania (#19)
- Best Small Colleges in America (#186) and Pennsylvania (#10)
Marywood University also earned high marks for Best College Dorms in Pennsylvania (#15), Best College Locations in Pennsylvania (#20), Best Value Colleges in Pennsylvania (#22), Best Colleges in Pennsylvania (#23), and Safest College Campuses in Pennsylvania (#26), among positive placements in many other categories.
Additional Recognitions
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Middle States Review Process Underway at Marywood UniversityInstitutions seeking re-accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) must engage in a self-study process—basically, a review and summation of the University’s life.
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2024 Campus Prevention Network Seal of Prevention Recognizes Marywood's Exceptional Commitment to Digital Student Wellness, Safety, & Inclusion EffortsThe CPN Seal of Prevention™ recognizes institutions of higher education that demonstrate leadership in the areas of student safety, well-being, and inclusion to improve student well-being and success.
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Pennsylvania’s Interior Designers Pass Historic Legislation Elevating Marywood University’s Leadership in the FieldPennsylvania has passed Act 144, a landmark law recognizing "Certified Interior Designer" as a protected title, requiring professionals to hold a four-year degree and certification through the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ). This legislation, signed by Governor Josh Shapiro, highlights the critical role of interior designers in ensuring public health, safety, and welfare, while distinguishing the profession from interior decorators.
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Marywood Recognized as 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student VotingThis designation recognizes colleges and universities for outstanding efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter participation.
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Marywood Nursing Graduates Achieve Perfect 100% Pass Rate on National ExamThis is the second consecutive year that Marywood nursing graduates have achieved a perfect pass rate within one year of graduation.
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Marywood Earns Impressive Placements in 2025 Niche College RankingsMarywood University earned impressive placements both nationally and statewide in this year's rankings by Niche, the leading platform connecting students and families with colleges and schools.
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Marywood University’s Quality and Value Recognized by U.S. News “Best Colleges” for 2025Marywood continues to offer the “Best Value” among Northeast Pennsylvania universities, according to the 2025 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges ranking.
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Marywood Athletic Teams Recognized for Academic ExcellenceSeveral Marywood University Pacers athletics teams were recognized recently by their respective coaches’ associations for their academic excellence.
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Marywood’s Quality and Value Recognized by “Best Colleges”"U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Colleges" ranking deems Marywood University the Best Value among Northeast PA colleges.
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Business Students Win Awards at X-Culture Global Business Plan CompetitionMarywood students were members of two of the four winning teams selected by company executives—tying the highest college-winning representation at the conference.
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Marywood Earns Impressive Placements in 2024 Niche College RankingsBoth nationally and statewide, Marywood earned high marks in the 2024 Niche College Rankings.
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Marywood Designated as a PA Hunger-Free+ CampusThe Pennsylvania Department of Education has recognized Marywood's leadership in the area of college student food security.
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Illustration Program Ranks Among Top NationallyMarywood's illustration program has attained noteworthy placements among the top programs in the state, region, and nation in the 2023 Illustration School Rankings.
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Architecture Students Earn Second Place Finish in National Design ChallengeMarywood University’s School of Architecture (MUSOA) captured second place honors in the Retrofit Housing division in the final stage of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® 2023 Design Challenge.
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Marywood Named a Voter Friendly CampusMarywood University was recently named a Voter Friendly Campus by Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education as part of the nationwide Voter Friendly Campus initiative.
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Marywood University’s MFA Program Ranks Among Top 10 in the NationMarywood's MFA program has been ranked at #4 nationally by Best Value Schools. Marywood University is the only regional insititution to earn this national recognition.
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Marywood's Online Nonprofit Leadership and Public Management Program Ranked Among the Best in the NationMarywood’s public administration programs earned top honors for overall quality, affordability, and commitment to student success.
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Aviation Management Program Ranks #5 as “2023 Top Ten Flight Schools and Universities in Pennsylvania”Marywood University is the only university in the region that offers a bachelor's degree in aviation management.
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Chamber Singers Earn Honorable Mention as Finalists in National Choral CompetitionThe Marywood University Chamber Singers are one of two collegiate choral ensembles in the small program division to receive an Honorable Mention for the 2022 American Prize in Choral Performance.
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Marywood University Earns 2022-2023 Military Friendly® School DesignationMarywood has a steadfast and ongoing commitment to support the distinctive educational needs of its veteran, current military, and dependent students.
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Marywood Recognized as One of America’s Best Colleges for Student VotingStudent efforts to increase voter registration and voting rates have earned Marywood University national recognition as one of "America’s Best Colleges for Student Voting."
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Marywood Earns Region's "Best Value," among other Distinctions, in Latest US News "Best Colleges" RankingsMarywood University is the highest ranked local four-year private college in the "Best Value" and "Best College for Veterans" categories, with strong rankings in the "Best Regional Universities North" and "Top Performers in Social Media" categories.
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Marywood Recognized: 2022-23 Colleges of DistinctionMarywood University has been recognized nationally for its high-impact approach to education and its honorable commitment to engaged, experiential education by Colleges of Distinction
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Marywood Ranks Among Top 50 Architecture DegreesLearn.org stated that while earning their career-enhancing degree, students can access world-class facilities that were built with sustainability in mind and re-use the school’s former natatorium and gymnasium.
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Marywood Has Top Graphic Design and Illustration ProgramsGraphic Design program ranks among the top 10 in Pennsylvania, and its Illustration program ranks number 4 in the state and number 18 on the east coast for 2021, by Animation Career Review.
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Marywood Named a 2021-2022 College of DistinctionMarywood University has been recognized nationally for its high-impact approach to education
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Marywood University Ranks Among Best in 2021 Global Ranking#8 in Best in Pennsylvania Offering Architecture Programs
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Marywood Named Best Value College in Pennsylvania in 2020#17 by bestvalueschools.org for both its traditional and online delivery formats
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Marywood Among Money's 2020 Best Colleges27 factors under the umbrella criteria included quality of education; affordability; and outcomes as part of their of ranking
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Lloyd L. Lyter, Ph.D., MSW, LSW - Named Social Work Educator of the YearLloyd L. Lyter named Social Work Educator of the Year.
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Military Times Ranks Marywood University Among Best for Vets: Colleges 2017Marywood University offers the “Best for Vets: Colleges 2017” in veteran and military student offerings and rates of academic success, according to Military Times.
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U.S. News Ranks Marywood University Best Value among Northeast PA CollegesAt #29 of 60 regional universities (North) ranked for “Best Value,” Marywood ranked as one of the highest of the five local four-year private colleges included in this category.
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Ranked #1 for Nutrition Program -
Physician Assistant Program Among Top 15 in PennsylvaniaThe employment of PAs is expected to grow by 38% from 2012 to 2022
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Early Childhood Education Program Ranks Among Best in the Nation“Schools found on this list would be an excellent choice for an individual looking to prepare for a career in this teaching field." ~ Study.com
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Marywood Ranks Best Value, Best College for Veterans, and Best Colleges North by U.S. News & World Report#20 of the regional universities (North) ranked for “Best Value,” Marywood ranked as one of the highest of the five local four-year private colleges included in this category.
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Master's in Higher Education Program Ranks Among Top#27 in the Top 45 Master’s in Higher Education Programs and as the best program at a Catholic University by Intelligent.com.
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Marywood Ranks Among Top Tier 1 Colleges and Universities“Transparency and value in higher education is paramount—parents are telling us. Accordingly, we rank colleges by the outcomes of their graduates—including jobs and salaries, graduation rates, student loan payback rates, and other factors.”
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Doctor of Psychology Program Ranks among Top 25 in the U.S.The standings were formulated using a list of American Psychological Association accredited doctor of psychology (Psy.D.) programs in clinical psychology.
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Marywood University is One of the 2021 Best Allied Health Professions SchoolsHighlights includes #7 Best Allied Health Professions Schools in Pennsylvania; #9 Best Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services Master’s Degree Schools; #19 Best Allied Health Professions Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region