Monmouth University has been named to Time’s inaugural “America’s Best Colleges 2026-2027” roster, a new national guide evaluating institutions on the outcomes and value they provide their students. Released Aug. 25, the list recognizes Monmouth among 500 colleges and universities nationwide.
“Time’s evaluation emphasizes what institutions contribute to student success,” said Monmouth University President Patrick F. Leahy. “Monmouth has always believed that excellence and access are not competing values, but a single mission — and this ranking measures exactly that. We have worked intentionally to welcome talented students from a wide range of backgrounds, support them through graduation, and prepare them for meaningful careers and lives of purpose.”
Developed by Time in partnership with the global data and analytics firm Statista, the ranking places its greatest emphasis on student outcomes, which account for 75% of each institution’s overall score. That category measures graduate earnings, four-year graduation rates, and return on education.
Beyond student outcomes, 15% of Time’s score evaluates the learning environment through student-to-faculty ratio, institutional expenditures per student, and measures of diversity, including Pell Grant enrollment as an indicator of socioeconomic diversity. The remaining 10% measures attractiveness to prospective students through admission and enrollment patterns.
Time’s emphasis on value-added outcomes aligns with a strategic priority Monmouth University has woven into its educational philosophy: advancing social mobility. By measuring what an institution adds to a student’s trajectory rather than the advantages students bring with them, the methodology also recognizes outcomes of the university’s recently completed strategic plan, Excellence. Access. Ambition.
In addition to landing on Time’s inaugural list, Monmouth University has also earned repeated national recognition for social mobility and value, from third-party evaluators including U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly, Money, and The Wall Street Journal.
The full list of “America’s Best Colleges 2026-2027” and methodology are available at Time.com.