Princeton Review and TIME highlight national publications that recognize Etown among the nation’s top colleges.
Elizabethtown College has recently earned recognition from several prominent national publications, highlighting the College’s academic excellence, value, and commitment to preparing students for purposeful lives and careers.
“These recognitions highlight the strength of an Etown education that prepares graduates for today’s careers while giving them the skills to adapt to opportunities that don’t yet exist,” Elizabethtown College President Betty Rider said. “By learning to think critically and communicate effectively, our graduates are ready to forge their own paths and thrive in an ever-changing world.”
Princeton Review | 2027 Best Colleges: Mid-Atlantic Region
Etown was chosen as one of Princeton Review’s 98 best institutions in the Mid-Atlantic region for the sixth consecutive year after being named to the Best in the Mid-Atlantic section of its 2027 Best Colleges: Region by Region listing.
Princeton Review recognized 630 institutions across seven zones – Northeast, South, Southwest, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, West, and International (outside of the United States) – that the publication considers to be academically outstanding and worthy of consideration in prospective students’ college search.
Lists are not ranked and appear in alphabetical order by school name. An institution’s inclusion on the list is derived from multiple categories that are determined using data from student surveys of their college experience.
TIME | America’s Best Colleges 2026-2027: #357
TIME ranked Etown among the national top-500 institutions for excelling at student outcomes, learning environment, and attractiveness to students, placing at #357 in its inaugural edition of America’s Best Colleges of 2026-2027.
Etown scored highest in the learning environment category that assesses the quality of the instructional setting and community that an institution provides for its students.
Washington Monthly | 2026 Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars: Northeast: #269
Washington Monthly placed Etown at #269 on its 2026 Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars: Northeast list. The publication’s annual ranking evaluates schools based on their contribution to the public good in four broad categories: access, affordability, outcomes, and promoting public service.
College Raptor | Top Hidden Gem Colleges in the Mid-East U.S.: #15
College Raptor ranked Etown #15 out of 104 schools in the region and ninth in Pennsylvania in their annual list of Top Hidden Gem Colleges in the Mid-East U.S., climbing 30 spots from last year.
The rankings recognize institutions that offer exceptional programs and a high-quality academic experience. Factors include retention rates, graduation rates, student-to-faculty ratio, endowment per student, selectivity, and additional key metrics.
Etown Rises in 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges Rankings
Recently, Etown made significant gains in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, climbing across several categories and demonstrating continued momentum in academic quality, value, and student success.
The College jumped 13 spots to No. 32 (tie) out of 164 institutions in the Regional Universities (North) rankings, placing second in Pennsylvania. Etown also climbed 17 spots to No. 10 for Best Value Schools and rose to No. 44 nationally in Undergraduate Engineering, while earning the No. 1 ranking in Pennsylvania for both Best Value and Undergraduate Teaching among Regional Universities (North).
Learn more about Elizabethtown College or attend an on-campus Open House this fall on Oct. 24 and Nov. 14. Register today at etown.edu.