For the fifteenth year in a row, Cedar Crest College has been named among the top colleges by U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges Rankings 2025-2026. The 2026 edition of the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings evaluates more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities, using up to 17 factors to measure academic quality and graduate success.
U.S. News publishes the Best Colleges rankings each year to provide prospective students and their families with the comparative merits of the undergraduate programs at America’s colleges and universities. The rankings offer detailed information on the institutions and data on factors such as graduation rates, graduate indebtedness, and post-graduate earnings.
Among Regional Universities in the North, the College was ranked:
- #16 in Top Performer of Social Mobility in the North
- Among the top 100 Best Regional Universities in the North
“These rankings reflect Cedar Crest’s enduring commitment to lifting students up and preparing them to succeed,” says President Elizabeth M. Meade. “Our graduates go on to make a meaningful impact in their careers, communities, and across the world, bringing innovation and compassion to everything they do.”
In the last year, Cedar Crest has continued to promote student success and opportunity through several bold initiatives. Recently, the College announced its partnership with Allentown’s Neighborhood Health Center of the Lehigh Valley (NHCLV). This joint venture added critical support and resources to NHCLV’s Hamilton Street site, creating valuable hands-on learning opportunities for nursing students to provide direct care to members of the community. Later this month, the College will host the ribbon cutting ceremony for its Expert Witness Training Center & Crime Scene Lab, addressing a justice-system need and increasing the College’s capacity in training forensic science, law enforcement, first-responder professionals, and those who are often asked to provide testimony in court to become effective expert witnesses.
For over 150 years, Cedar Crest has been empowering women and leading change. Amidst uncertain times in higher education, the College remains strong in its mission to shape the future of education, champion its students, and support community well-being.