Montclair State University is continuing its ascension in the country’s top college rankings.

The University has been ranked among the best national universities in the nation in the U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Colleges rankings, with Montclair improving in several categories in this closely watched list of the best colleges in America.

Montclair has once again been recognized as a national leader in social mobility – a measure of how well schools enroll and graduate economically disadvantaged students and bring them closer to achieving the American Dream – ranking at No. 12 in the country among 434 national universities in the increasingly important category.

The institution also ranked No. 152 overall, its highest ranking ever, moving up 11 spots from No. 163 in the 2024 rankings.

U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Colleges Rankings At a Glance

• No. 152 out of 434 national universities (up 11 spots)
• No. 81 among national public institutions (up 7 spots from No. 88 in 2024)
• No. 12 in the country among national universities in social mobility
• No. 106 among best colleges for veterans (up 7 spots from No. 113 in 2024)

“Montclair State University is taking on a very unique assignment in higher education – being an accessible, affordable and excellent institution that is also committed to serving the public good at a level now being recognized on the national stage,” says President Jonathan Koppell. “Montclair is an institution on the rise in every possible way, and these latest rankings are yet another indicator that the profile of the institution is growing as well.”

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