Students during the first day of classes on August 31, 2026. Photo by Nick Chismar ’20

Moravian University, the fastest-growing college in the region, jumps nine spots in overall ranking and receives top marks for private colleges, best value, and veterans.

BETHLEHEM, PA – Sept. 22, 2026– Today, Moravian University announced that it has been recognized across multiple categories in the U.S. News & World Report 2027 Best Colleges rankings. Moravian earned the #29 spot among Regional Universities (North), marking a nine-spot jump from #38 in the 2026 rankings.

Now in its 42nd year, the U.S. News & World Report rankings evaluate more than 1,700 colleges and universities nationwide across up to 17 measures of academic quality, placing heavy emphasis on student outcomes and social mobility.

Moravian University was recognized in the following categories:

  • #29 in Overall Rank – Regional Universities (North)-(tied)
  • #19 in Top Private Colleges – Regional Universities (North) -(tied)
  • #34 in Best Value Schools – Regional Universities (North) 
  • #75 in Top Performers on Social Mobility – Regional Universities (North)-(tied)
  • #31 in Best Colleges for Veterans – Regional Universities (North) 

“The past year has seen tremendous momentum at Moravian; from launching the aviation program to opening a new student center and more recently starting an AI Innovation Lab to address real-world issues,” remarked Bryon Grigsby, president of Moravian University. “Despite the broader challenges facing higher education, we listen closely to what students need, and that strategy is paying off. These rankings reflect the relentless hard work of our faculty and staff year-round.”

U.S. News publishes the Best Colleges list annually to help prospective students and families evaluate undergraduate programs. Rankings rely on key data points including graduation rates, graduate indebtedness, and post-graduate earnings.

In addition to the U.S. News & World Report rankings, Moravian University earned prominent national recognition across several recent higher education reports:

  • The Best 392 Colleges: 2027 Edition, Princeton Review
    • Best Mid-Atlantic
    • Best Student Support and Counseling Services (#16)
    • Best Career Services (#17)
    • Best-Run Colleges (#19)
  • TIME America’s Best Colleges 2026-2027, #345
  • 2027 Best Colleges in America (#474), Niche
  • 2027 Best Small Colleges in America (#183), Niche
  • 2027 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania (#21), Niche
  • 2027 Best Colleges for Nursing (#9) in Pennsylvania, Niche
  • Best Colleges in America 2026, Money Magazine

To learn more about Moravian University’s rankings and academic programs, visit moravian.edu.

Moravian University Media Contact
Michael Corr
Email: corrm@moravian.edu
Ph: 610.861.1365

About Moravian University
Moravian University, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is the nation’s sixth-oldest university and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates. For more than 280 years, the university has been preparing students for reflective lives, fulfilling careers, and transformative leadership in a world of change. Moravian University is a member of The New American Colleges and Universities (NACU), a national consortium of private comprehensive colleges and universities working together to graduate extraordinary professionals for a global workforce and society. 

In 2024, Moravian University became part of a World Heritage designation when Moravian Church Settlements — Bethlehem, Gracehill (Northern Ireland, UK), and Herrnhut (Saxony, Germany) joined Christiansfeld (Denmark) as a single World Heritage Site—Moravian Church Settlements. Moravian is just the second university in the United States to be part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation and only the eighth university in the world to have this recognition.

Visit moravian.edu to learn more about how Moravian University prepares its students for lifelong success.