by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in the Middle Atlantic Region, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked 823 graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 823 graduate schools 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.
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Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
No school ranked higher than Georgetown University this year in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in Washington, DC, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Georgetown University posts a six-year graduation rate of 95%. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,089. Median early-career earnings reach $79,632. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete a degree here.
Johns Hopkins University came in at #2 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in the Middle Atlantic Region. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit school based in Baltimore, MD. Johns Hopkins University posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. In-state tuition and fees run about $64,730. Early-career graduates earn a median of $84,850. The median student debt is $13,426.
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in the Middle Atlantic Region. Based in Philadelphia, PA, University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Pennsylvania posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. In-state tuition and fees average $68,686. Median early-career earnings reach $99,682. Typical student debt is $16,155.
Out of the 823 graduate schools in the Middle Atlantic Region in this year's ranking, Cornell University landed the #4 spot. Set in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Cornell University posts a six-year graduation rate of 95%. 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 823 graduate schools in the Middle Atlantic Region in this year's ranking, Carnegie Mellon University landed the #5 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Pittsburgh, PA. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $65,636 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $89,327. The median student debt is $23,529.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Set in College Park, MD, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $57,901. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete a degree here.
University Of Maryland Baltimore landed the #7 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. Located in Baltimore, MD, University Of Maryland Baltimore is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,638, while out-of-state students pay about $44,811. University Of Maryland Baltimore graduates report median early-career earnings of $85,300. Typical student debt is $21,500.
New York University landed the #8 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. Located in New York, NY, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. New York University graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,516. New York University students take on a median of $21,897 in debt.
George Washington University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. George Washington University is a private not-for-profit school based in Washington, DC. About 84% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $67,710. Graduates go on to earn a median of $73,749 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete a degree here.
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. Columbia University In The City Of New York posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Graduates go on to earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. The median student debt is $23,258.
Princeton University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Located in Princeton, NJ, Princeton University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 98% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $62,688 in tuition and fees. 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. Set in Villanova, PA, Villanova University is a private not-for-profit institution. 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.
Lafayette College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Set in Easton, PA, Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $64,648 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $59,513. Lafayette College students take on a median of $16,931 in debt.
Colgate University did well this year, earning the #14 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hamilton, NY. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,306. Median early-career earnings reach $52,924. The median student debt is $16,286.
Suny Downstate Medical Center landed the #15 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. Located in Brooklyn, NY, Suny Downstate Medical Center is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,822 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,662 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $100,079. Suny Downstate Medical Center students take on a median of $24,882 in debt.
Lehigh University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bethlehem, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. In-state tuition and fees run about $64,980. Graduates go on to earn a median of $70,321 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $23,008.
Stevens Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #17 position. 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. Typical student debt is $26,767.
Rutgers University New Brunswick did well this year, earning the #18 position. Set in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $17,929, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. Median early-career earnings reach $58,402. The median student debt is $25,120.
University Of Delaware placed #19 among the best graduate schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Based in Newark, DE, University Of Delaware is a public institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $16,810 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,400. University Of Delaware graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,155. Students borrow a median of $24,861 to complete a degree here.
The College Of New Jersey came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Set in Ewing, NJ, The College Of New Jersey is a public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $19,632, while out-of-state students pay about $25,752. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,617. Graduates carry a median of $24,429 in student loans.
Barnard College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Located in New York, NY, Barnard College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,888. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,790. Typical student debt is $17,609.
Bucknell University did well this year, earning the #22 position. Bucknell University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lewisburg, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Students from in state pay about $67,812 in tuition and fees. Bucknell University graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,331. Bucknell University students take on a median of $25,951 in debt.
American University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Based in Washington, DC, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $58,771. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,585. Graduates carry a median of $24,139 in student loans.
Hamilton College landed the #24 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. Located in Clinton, NY, Hamilton College is a private not-for-profit institution. Hamilton College posts a six-year graduation rate of 91%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,960. Hamilton College graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,806. Typical student debt is $16,131.
University Of Rochester ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Rochester, NY, University Of Rochester is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Rochester posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. In-state tuition and fees run about $67,080. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,865 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,517 to complete a degree here.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
Click any graduate school name below to learn more:
These graduate schools narrowly missed the top tiers:
| 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 graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2027 edition. Graduate schools are scored on 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.