Reaching New Heights Together
Monmouth celebrates a year of unprecedented progress—from research distinction and national accolades to a record-setting incoming class.
Each fall, I’m reminded that Monmouth’s story keeps getting better. What we’ve accomplished together says a great deal about who we are and where we are heading.
This year, Monmouth University reached several historic milestones. We earned Carnegie Classification as a research college and university (RCU), an affirmation of the high-impact research and scholarly productivity of our faculty that places Monmouth among a distinguished group of institutions contributing meaningfully to discovery and applied knowledge. For a university that began in 1933 as a small junior college, this recognition marks an extraordinary leap.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education reaffirmed our accreditation this spring, granting 12 commendations and no recommendations—a rare and no- table outcome. It reflects the strength of our operations, the excellence of our academic programs, the dedication of our community, and the integrity of our institutional practices as judged by a team of peer reviewers.
That excellence is also showing up in national rankings. Monmouth achieved its highest-ever placement in U.S. News & World Report: No. 13 on the Regional Universities North list, up 63 spots since first debuting in this very category nearly 20 years ago. We also earned Top 25 placements for Innovation, Undergraduate Teaching, and Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse rankings also placed Monmouth at a new benchmark, and No. 3 among private universities in New Jersey, behind only Princeton and Stevens Institute of Technology. These external endorsements matter because they reflect the dedication of our faculty, the quality of our students, and the value of a Monmouth degree.
This fall’s first-year class is the most academically prepared in Monmouth’s 92- year history, boasting a record 3.67 GPA, an average submitted SAT of 1225, and the largest number of Honors School enrollments in University history. At the same time, we welcomed a record number of first-generation and low-income students, with 55.8 percent of the class identifying as first generation or Pell Grant–eligible. These results reflect our mission to integrate excellence and access like few other schools of our kind anywhere.
Momentum extends beyond the classroom. Our comprehensive campaign—Excellence. Access. Ambition.—is nearing completion, with 95 percent of our $175 million goal secured. The resources generated through this effort are fueling scholarships, endowed professorships, and innovative programs across the University. That campaign will conclude in 2026, but its impact will be felt for decades to come.
And we look forward to a moment of great pride next spring, when the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music opens its doors. This landmark facility will celebrate the rich history and tradition of American music while elevating Monmouth’s global profile.
I could not be more proud of how far we’ve come or more optimistic about what’s next. Thank you for being part of this remarkable journey and for all the ways you contribute to Monmouth’s success.