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 830 graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 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:
Our analysis found Georgetown University to be the best graduate school 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.
A rank of #2 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the top graduate schools 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.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the top graduate schools 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.
The strong outcomes at Cornell University earned it the #4 place in the Middle Atlantic Region. 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.
The strong outcomes at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned it the #5 place in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in University Park, PA, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students.
Carnegie Mellon University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. 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 Baltimore did well this year, earning the #7 position. 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.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #8 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.
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #9 on our 2026 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.
George Washington University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. 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.
New York University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. 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.
Villanova University placed #12 among the best graduate schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. 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.
Princeton University placed #13 among the best graduate schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. 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.
Lehigh University placed #14 among the best graduate schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. 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.
Colgate University did well this year, earning the #15 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 #16 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.
Lafayette College landed the #17 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. 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.
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #18 among the best graduate schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. 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.
Stevens Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #19 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.
University Of Delaware came in at #20 in this year's ranking. 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 landed the #21 spot in the Middle Atlantic Region this year. 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 did well this year, earning the #22 position. 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.
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 did well this year, earning the #24 position. 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.
Bucknell University did well this year, earning the #25 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.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 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.