by our College Data Analytics TeamGeorgetown University ranks #1 of 823 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best 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 $99,583 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 **823** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 823 colleges across over 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.
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Georgetown University leads the 823 ranked colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region, followed by Johns Hopkins University (#2) and University Of Pennsylvania (#3). Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Leading the list is Georgetown University, our #1 college in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in Washington, DC, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Georgetown University posts a six-year graduation rate of 95%. Students from in state pay about $68,089 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $79,632. The median student debt is $16,483.
You'll be in good company at Johns Hopkins University, which ranked #2 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Baltimore, MD. Johns Hopkins University posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. Students from in state pay about $64,730 in tuition and fees. Johns Hopkins University graduates report median early-career earnings of $84,850. Graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in the Middle Atlantic Region. Based in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $99,682. Typical student debt is $16,155.
You'll be in good company at Cornell University, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. In-state tuition and fees average $69,314. Early-career graduates earn a median of $75,976. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete a degree here.
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. In-state tuition and fees average $65,636. Median early-career earnings reach $89,327. The median student debt is $23,529.
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #6 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. Located in College Park, MD, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. University Of Maryland College Park posts a six-year graduation rate of 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. The median student debt is $20,836.
University Of Maryland Baltimore did well this year, earning the #7 position. This public school is set in Baltimore, MD. In-state tuition and fees average $13,638, compared with $44,811 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $85,300. Typical student debt is $21,500.
New York University did well this year, earning the #8 position. 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. Students from in state pay about $62,796 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $64,516. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete a degree here.
George Washington University placed #9 among the best colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region. Based in Washington, DC, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,710. Early-career graduates earn a median of $73,749. Typical student debt is $22,910.
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #10 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. Based 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. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $86,770. The median student debt is $23,258.
Princeton University landed the #11 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Princeton, NJ. Princeton University posts a six-year graduation rate of 98%. In-state tuition and fees run about $62,688. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $67,532. The median student debt is $10,888.
Villanova University landed the #12 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. Villanova University is a private not-for-profit school based in Villanova, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. In-state tuition and fees average $67,776. Early-career graduates earn a median of $72,601. Typical student debt is $26,184.
Lafayette College did well this year, earning the #13 position. Set in Easton, PA, Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. In-state tuition and fees average $64,648. Median early-career earnings reach $59,513. The median student debt is $16,931.
Colgate University placed #14 among the best colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in Hamilton, NY, Colgate University is a private not-for-profit institution. Colgate University graduates 91% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $70,306 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $52,924. Graduates carry a median of $16,286 in student loans.
Suny Downstate Medical Center placed #15 among the best colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region. Suny Downstate Medical Center is a public school based in Brooklyn, NY. Students from in state pay about $7,822 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,662 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $100,079. Typical student debt is $24,882.
Lehigh University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Bethlehem, PA, Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit institution. Lehigh University graduates 88% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $64,980 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,321. Typical student debt is $23,008.
Stevens Institute Of Technology placed #17 among the best colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hoboken, NJ. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Students from in state pay about $63,462 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $87,055. Graduates carry a median of $26,767 in student loans.
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. In-state tuition and fees average $17,929, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. Median early-career earnings reach $58,402. Graduates carry a median of $25,120 in student loans.
University Of Delaware landed the #19 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,155. Graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans.
The College Of New Jersey did well this year, earning the #20 position. The College Of New Jersey is a public school based in Ewing, NJ. The College Of New Jersey graduates 86% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $19,632, compared with $25,752 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,617. The median student debt is $24,429.
Barnard College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Based in New York, NY, Barnard College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $69,888. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,790 early in their careers. The median student debt is $17,609.
Bucknell University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lewisburg, PA. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $67,812 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,331 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,951 to complete a degree here.
American University landed the #23 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. Based in Washington, DC, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. American University posts a six-year graduation rate of 76%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,771. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,585. Typical student debt is $24,139.
Hamilton College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Clinton, NY. Hamilton College graduates 91% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $68,960 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,806 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,131 to complete a degree here.
University Of Rochester landed the #25 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. Based in Rochester, NY, University Of Rochester is a private not-for-profit institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $67,080. Median early-career earnings reach $60,865. Graduates carry a median of $21,517 in student loans.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 823 in the Middle Atlantic Region. These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
These 74 colleges rank #51 through #124 of 823 in the Middle Atlantic Region. Click any college name below to learn more:
These 41 colleges rank #125 through #165 of 823 in the Middle Atlantic Region. These schools also stood out this year:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 150 | The Commonwealth Medical College | Scranton, PA |
| 151 | Elyon College | Brooklyn, NY |
| 152 | Mount Saint Mary College | Newburgh, NY |
| 153 | Capitol College | Laurel, MD |
| 154 | College Of Mount Saint Vincent | Bronx, NY |
| 155 | The New School | New York, NY |
| 156 | Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art | New York, NY |
| 157 | Drew University | Madison, NJ |
| 158 | University Of Maryland University College | Adelphi, MD |
| 159 | Washington And Jefferson College | Washington, PA |
| 160 | New York Institute Of Technology | Old Westbury, NY |
| 161 | Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock, PA |
| 162 | Princeton Theological Seminary | Princeton, NJ |
| 163 | Cuny Lehman College | Bronx, NY |
| 164 | Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg, PA |
| 165 | Thomas Edison State College | Trenton, NJ |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.