Berks

U.S. News ranks Penn State Berks among top regional colleges in the North

Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

WYOMISSING, Pa. — U.S. News & World Report's 2027 "Best Colleges" recently placed Penn State Berks among the top “Regional Colleges in the North.” Berks is ranked No. 32 among regional colleges and No. 19 among top public schools.

“This honor reflects what makes our college distinctive: a commitment to academic excellence, a culture of innovation and deep connections with the communities and industries we serve,” stated Radha Pyati, chancellor and dean of Penn State Berks. "These strengths create opportunities for students to learn, explore and apply their knowledge in meaningful ways. As the world continues to evolve, we are focused not only on preparing graduates for successful careers, but on cultivating the curiosity, creativity and adaptability that will enable them to make a lasting impact.”

According to U.S. News, the rankings are an assessment of academic quality, using up to 17 measures of student success including graduation rates, earnings by major, and student-faculty ratio, to name a few.

The U.S. News rankings amplify the college’s recent Carnegie Opportunity Colleges and Universities – High Access, High Earnings Classification, a new designation by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Of the over 3,700 U.S. institutions evaluated, only 478 — or 16% — received this designation.

“Providing access and opportunity to students from all socioeconomic backgrounds and cultures is a defining feature of who we are at Penn State Berks. As part of a land-grant university, it is our North star and central to our values,” Pyati explained. “We offer a variety of opportunities, like Aspiring Scholars and Engineering Ahead, two examples of summer bridge programs that help students from diverse backgrounds and get a jump start on college.”

For more information on academic programs, research and student opportunities, visit berks.psu.edu.