by our College Data Analytics TeamGeorgetown University ranks #1 of 364 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 89% six-year graduation rate and $99,388 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in the Middle Atlantic Region, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **364** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 364 colleges using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Georgetown University leads the 364 ranked colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region, followed by University Of Pennsylvania (#2) and Cornell University (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
Georgetown University tops our 2027 ranking of the best colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region. Based in Washington, DC, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $79,632. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete a degree here.
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Early-career graduates earn a median of $99,682. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Cornell University earned it the #3 place in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $69,314. Early-career graduates earn a median of $75,976. Cornell University students take on a median of $15,005 in debt.
Out of the 364 colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region in this year's ranking, University Of Maryland College Park landed the #4 spot. Based in College Park, MD, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,901. Graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans.
Out of the 364 colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region in this year's ranking, Carnegie Mellon University landed the #5 spot. Located in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,636. Median early-career earnings reach $89,327. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete a degree here.
Johns Hopkins University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Set in Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,730. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $84,850. The median student debt is $13,426.
Princeton University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Princeton University is a private not-for-profit school based in Princeton, NJ. Princeton University graduates 98% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,688. Princeton University graduates report median early-career earnings of $67,532. Princeton University students take on a median of $10,888 in debt.
University Of Maryland Baltimore did well this year, earning the #8 position. University Of Maryland Baltimore is a public school based in Baltimore, MD. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,638, compared with $44,811 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $85,300. The median student debt is $21,500.
George Washington University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Washington, DC, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. George Washington University posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,710. Graduates go on to earn a median of $73,749 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $22,910.
New York University landed the #10 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. Located in New York, NY, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $64,516. Graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans.
Lehigh University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Bethlehem, PA, Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit institution. Lehigh University posts a six-year graduation rate of 88%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,980. Graduates go on to earn a median of $70,321 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $23,008 in student loans.
Lafayette College placed #12 among the best colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region. Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit school based in Easton, PA. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,648. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,513 early in their careers. The median student debt is $16,931.
Colgate University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Hamilton, NY, Colgate University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. In-state tuition and fees average $70,306. Median early-career earnings reach $52,924. Graduates carry a median of $16,286 in student loans.
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #14 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. Based in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,929, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates report median early-career earnings of $58,402. Students borrow a median of $25,120 to complete a degree here.
Villanova University landed the #15 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. Villanova University is a private not-for-profit school based in Villanova, PA. About 92% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $67,776. Graduates go on to earn a median of $72,601 early in their careers. Villanova University students take on a median of $26,184 in debt.
Stevens Institute Of Technology ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Hoboken, NJ, Stevens Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Stevens Institute Of Technology graduates 87% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $63,462. Early-career graduates earn a median of $87,055. Stevens Institute Of Technology students take on a median of $26,767 in debt.
University Of Delaware placed #17 among the best colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in Newark, DE, University Of Delaware is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,810, compared with $41,400 for out-of-state students. University Of Delaware graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,155. University Of Delaware students take on a median of $24,861 in debt.
Suny Downstate Medical Center landed the #18 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. Located in Brooklyn, NY, Suny Downstate Medical Center is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,822, with out-of-state students paying around $19,662. Suny Downstate Medical Center graduates report median early-career earnings of $100,079. Suny Downstate Medical Center students take on a median of $24,882 in debt.
The College Of New Jersey did well this year, earning the #19 position. This public school is set in Ewing, NJ. The College Of New Jersey graduates 86% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,632, with out-of-state students paying around $25,752. Median early-career earnings reach $56,617. Typical student debt is $24,429.
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $70,517. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates report median early-career earnings of $86,770. The median student debt is $23,258.
Barnard College placed #21 among the best colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region. Based in New York, NY, Barnard College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $69,888 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,790 early in their careers. The median student debt is $17,609.
Bucknell University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lewisburg, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,812. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $64,331. The median student debt is $25,951.
American University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Based in Washington, DC, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,771. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,585. Students borrow a median of $24,139 to complete a degree here.
Hamilton College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Set in Clinton, NY, Hamilton College is a private not-for-profit institution. Hamilton College graduates 91% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $68,960. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,806. Graduates carry a median of $16,131 in student loans.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Pittsburgh, PA. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,926. The median student debt is $24,958.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 364 in the Middle Atlantic Region. Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
These 5 colleges rank #51 through #55 of 364 in the Middle Atlantic Region. Explore the rest of the top 20% below:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Thomas Jefferson University | Philadelphia, PA |
| 52 | Fashion Institute Of Technology | New York, NY |
| 53 | Seton Hall University | South Orange, NJ |
| 54 | Cuny Bernard M Baruch College | New York, NY |
| 55 | Vassar College | Poughkeepsie, NY |
These 18 colleges rank #56 through #73 of 364 in the Middle Atlantic Region. These schools also stood out this year:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 56 | University Of Scranton | Scranton, PA |
| 57 | Rochester Institute Of Technology | Rochester, NY |
| 58 | Rutgers University Camden | Camden, NJ |
| 59 | University At Buffalo | Buffalo, NY |
| 60 | Cuny Graduate School And University Center | New York, NY |
| 61 | Gettysburg College | Gettysburg, PA |
| 62 | Siena College | Loudonville, NY |
| 63 | Temple University | Philadelphia, PA |
| 64 | Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs, NY |
| 65 | Ramapo College Of New Jersey | Mahwah, NJ |
| 66 | Union College New York | Schenectady, NY |
| 67 | Salisbury University | Salisbury, MD |
| 68 | Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown, PA |
| 69 | Adelphi University | Garden City, NY |
| 70 | St Lawrence University | Canton, NY |
| 71 | Suny At Albany | Albany, NY |
| 72 | Suny At Geneseo | Geneseo, NY |
| 73 | Suny College At Oneonta | Oneonta, NY |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.