Penn State University: Penn State ranks 31st among national public universities in U.S. News rankings

Penn State ranks 31st among national public universities in U.S. News’ annual “Best Colleges” ranking for 2022-23, released today (Sept. 12). Penn State is in the top 25 among American Association of Universities public institutions, and ranks 77th overall among 443 institutions included in the “National Universities” ranking.

Individual undergraduate program rankings released by U.S. News also show strength, including seven top-10 ratings for select programs in engineering and business, among others.

Penn State’s rank in “Best Business Programs” remained level at a strong 23, out of the list of 516 ranked.
Penn State also ranked well in a number of business specialty programs: supply chain management/logistics (4); insurance (9); production/operation management (10); real estate (13); management (14); marketing (27); accounting (28); finance (31).
Penn State’s rank in “Best Computer Science Programs” remained level at a strong 37, out of the list of 537 ranked.
Penn State ranked 22 out of 212 schools in “Best Engineering Programs,” at schools whose highest degree is a doctorate. The University also ranked well in a number of engineering specialties: petroleum (7); biological/agricultural (8); materials (9); industrial/manufacturing (10); mechanical (14); civil (15); aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical (17); environmental/environmental health(18); chemical (21); electrical/electronic/communications (23); and computer (27).
Penn State ranked 39 out of 681 institutions for “Best Nursing Programs.”
Penn State also is included once again in the list of national colleges that reported the highest percentages of international students in the 2021-22 academic year, with the University at 10%.

In addition, Penn State also ranks highly in polls released by other organizations with methodologies that focus on quality and research excellence. Penn State is one of the world’s elite public research universities, among the top 1% of higher education institutions globally. In the 2022-23 Center for World University Rankings poll, Penn State ranked No. 53 out of 2,000 institutions internationally for the quality of its education, employability, faculty and research. In June, the University rose to 93rd in the world in the 2023 QS World University Rankings, and came in ninth among all public U.S. universities, even as the number of institutions ranked increased 9% in size over the past year to include more than 1,400 of the world’s leading universities.

“While we value rankings and other surveys, it also is true that a single rating or number cannot tell the full story of Penn State and its broad impact, created by an innovative 20-campus educational model recognized for preparing graduates who are sought after by employers, and the breadth and depth of a top-25 research university,” said Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi.

“More than 381,000 Penn State alumni live and work in the state of Pennsylvania. The University contributes billions to the Pennsylvania economy each year and has helped to create more than 105,000 jobs across the commonwealth. Our brilliant faculty and students generate nearly $1 billion in annual research expenditures and each day are working to solve pressing problems that impact our world. With the support of our entire Penn State community we have achieved record fundraising success in support of our students and our mission,” Bendapudi said. “We have 24 campuses and a World Campus that meet students where they live. And we offer more than 275 high-quality undergraduate majors, along with resources such as Complete Penn State, which are designed to help students finish their chosen degrees on time and with less debt. Numbers such as these also indicate the impact Penn State is having across Pennsylvania, across the nation and around the world.”