2024 Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region
443
Colleges
$78,963
Avg Salary*
81%
Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*
It's not easy to decide which college to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual has developed its Top Middle Atlantic Region Colleges ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Our analysis looked at 443 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region to determine which ones were the best in terms of overall quality. Our ranking is based on over 20 objective factors, including post graduate earnings, freshman retention, and graduation rate. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another.
Get more details on our ranking methodology.
Custom Rankings
Since one ranking on its own is not enough to give you a complete understanding of your educational options, you can refine this list by location and field of study. We've also developed a number of other tools and rankings based on other factors. These other rankings highlight colleges that excel in other factors such as value or diversity as well as schools that excel in serving different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering!
Top Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found University of Pennsylvania to be the best school for overall quality in the Middle Atlantic Region in this year’s ranking. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 9,822 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a student-to-faculty rate of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UPenn go into careers with an average salary of $103,246 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on University of Pennsylvania
Out of the 443 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Carnegie Mellon University landed the #2 spot on the list. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 5,381 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The 4-year grad rate at the school is 76%. That’s impressive when you compare it to the national rate of 33%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon make an average of $99,998 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Carnegie Mellon University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Princeton University. The school came in at #3 in the Middle Atlantic Region on this year’s overall quality ranking. Princeton is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Princeton, New Jersey. It awarded 2,075 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Princeton go into careers with an average salary of $95,689 during the early years of their career.
Full Princeton University Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Teachers College at Columbia University. The school came in at #4 in the Middle Atlantic Region on this year’s overall quality ranking. Teachers College is located in New York, New York and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,995 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
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Out of the 443 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in New York, New York, the large private not-for-profit school handed out 13,952 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Bachelor’s degree students at the school tend to finish their degree on-time. The 4-year graduation rate is 86%, which is impressive compared to the national rate of 33%. During the early years of their career, graduates from Columbia make an average of $89,871 a year.
Read full report on Columbia University in the City of New York
Georgetown University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #6. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Washington, District of Columbia, and it awarded 7,126 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The 4-year grad rate at the school is 91%. That’s impressive when you compare it to the national rate of 33%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown is $96,375 during the early years of their career.
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Cornell University landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Cornell is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ithaca, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7,952 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $91,176 during the early years of their career..
Full Cornell University Report
With a ranking of #8, Johns Hopkins University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Johns Hopkins University is a large private not-for-profit school located in Baltimore, Maryland that handed out 10,486 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a student-to-faculty rate of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins is $83,287 during the early years of their career.
Full Johns Hopkins University Report
With a ranking of #9, New York University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region list. This large private not-for-profit school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 17,605 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from NYU make an average of $76,040 per year during the early years of their career.
Full New York University Report
The Juilliard School landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 251 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The 4-year grad rate at the school is 93%. That’s impressive when you compare it to the national rate of 33%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $37,960 during the early years of their career..
Full The Juilliard School Report
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Erie, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 1,252 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student-to-faculty rate of 2 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
University of Maryland - Baltimore landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. UMB is a public institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,534 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $78,677 during the early years of their career..
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The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Washington DC landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Washington, District of Columbia, and it awarded 182 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from The Chicago School Washington DC Campus go into careers with an average salary of $52,835 during the early years of their career.
Full The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Washington DC Report
University of Maryland - College Park ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region list. UMCP is a public institution located in College Park, Maryland. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12,417 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UMCP is $71,837 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on University of Maryland - College Park
Swarthmore College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Swarthmore is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. It awarded 481 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student-to-faculty rate of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore is $72,637 during the early years of their career.
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George Washington University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, the large private not-for-profit school awarded 9,981 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $80,606 during the early years of their career..
Full George Washington University Report
With a ranking of #17, American Musical and Dramatic Academy did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in New York, New York, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 481 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from American Musical and Dramatic Academy is $31,331 during the early years of their career.
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With a ranking of #18, Salus University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Salus University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. It awarded 431 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 0.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%
Full Salus University Report
Culinary Institute of America did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #19. The Culinary Institute of America is located in Hyde Park, New York and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,088 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from The Culinary Institute of America is $48,424 during the early years of their career.
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Stevens Institute of Technology came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in Hoboken, New Jersey, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 2,862 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Stevens go into careers with an average salary of $98,159 during the early years of their career.
Full Stevens Institute of Technology Report
Bucknell University landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 1,093 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty rate of 9 to 1, those pursuing a bachelor’s degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. During the early years of their career, graduates from Bucknell make an average of $88,154 a year.
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Colgate University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #22. Colgate is located in Hamilton, New York and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 899 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. During the early years of their career, graduates from Colgate make an average of $76,267 a year.
Read full report on Colgate University
Villanova University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Villanova is located in Villanova, Pennsylvania and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,100 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $90,613 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on Villanova University
Lehigh University landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Lehigh is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,158 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The 4-year grad rate at the school is 80%. That’s impressive when you compare it to the national rate of 33%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Lehigh make an average of $95,033 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Lehigh University
Relay Graduate School of Education came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Relay Graduate School of Education is located in New York, New York and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,753 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%
Full Relay Graduate School of Education Report
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