Accolades
Mount named a top college nationally, regionally by U.S. News and World Report
Photo by Lee Ferris
The Mount has once again been recognized as a top school by the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, this time across five categories, both nationally and regionally.
On U.S. News and World Report’s comprehensive lists of top-tier regional universities for 2025-2026, the Mount was ranked in the best 75 colleges in the category of Regional Universities (North), coming in at number 72. This represents an improvement of a dozen spots over the Mount’s ranking last year. These rankings assess academic quality, including first-year student retention, student excellence, graduation rate, and more. The Mount is consistently named a top-tier college in these yearly rankings.
U.S. News and World Report also ranked the Mount as one of its top 2025-2026 colleges in the category of Social Mobility, Regional Universities North, where the Mount was in the top 75. This category measures how well schools graduated students who received federal Pell Grants. Students receiving these grants typically come from economically disadvantaged households.
Like in previous years, the Mount was named a top school in the national ranking of Best Undergraduate Nursing programs. Mount Nursing students benefit from state-of-the-art simulation labs and learning resources, clinical relationships with dozens of area hospitals, and passionate faculty. They consistently score higher than the state average on the NCLEX-RN test.
New this year, the Mount was recognized as a Best Value School, Regional Universities North, ranking at #49. This honor is based on a school’s academic quality in relation to its cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, and financial aid.
Finally, the Mount was recognized as a Best College for Veterans, Regional Universities North, clocking in at #45. This ranking considers a school’s participation in key federal programs that aid veterans and service members, such as the GI Bill, along with other factors like academic quality and the number of enrolled veterans.
Quality and affordability praised by Money
Photo by Lee Ferris
The Mount was also recognized as one of Money's Best Colleges in America for 2025, an honor that highlights institutions that combine quality education with affordability and successful student outcomes.
The recognition places Mount Saint Mary College among the country’s top 732 schools.
“We are incredibly proud to be recognized by Money for the value we provide our students,” said Evan Merkhofer, Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Mount. “This recognition is a testament to our dedicated faculty and staff, who work tirelessly to ensure our students not only receive an exceptional education, but are also well-prepared for meaningful careers and lives of service after graduation.”
Money's analysis is designed to help students find schools that offer a high return on their educational investment. The methodology evaluated more than 2,400 four-year institutions.
The rankings are based on more than two dozen data points weighted across three primary categories: Quality of Education (30 percent), Affordability (40 percent), and Outcomes (30 percent). This approach considers factors such as six-year graduation rates, net price of a degree, student debt, and alumni earnings 10 years after enrollment.
The Mount’s inclusion on this list underscores its commitment to providing an accessible and impactful education. The college’s focus on small class sizes, personalized attention, and career-focused programs ensures students are well-equipped to succeed in today's workforce.
Online nursing programs honored by EduMed
Photo by Lee Ferris
Right at the tail end of the semester, the Mount picked up one more accolade – being named one of the best colleges in New York for online and hybrid nursing education by EduMed.org, a leader in student support for allied health and medical fields.
The college earned distinct honors in two categories for 2025: Best Online Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Programs in New York; and Best Online Accelerated BSN Programs in New York. The Mount was firmly in the top ten on both lists.
EduMed’s annual rankings are designed to help students find programs that offer the best combination of quality and convenience. The organization focused heavily on “overall value” for this year's list, selecting institutions that blend affordability and rigorous academics with the flexibility and student support services necessary for success.
In the rankings for Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner programs, the Mount was highlighted for its commitment to practical, real-world experience. EduMed noted that Mount students benefit from “mentorship by licensed psychiatric clinicians at diverse practicum sites including counseling centers, private practices, psychiatric clinics, and correctional facilities.”
The college was also honored for its Online Accelerated BSN program, which provides a fast track for students with non-nursing degrees to enter the healthcare workforce. The ranking underscores the Mount’s success in creating a hybrid learning environment that maintains high academic standards while offering the flexibility required by adult learners.
EduMed.org connects students with expert-driven information about education, training, and financial aid opportunities in healthcare and medical support. They are dedicated to providing relevant and helpful content to support the next generation of healthcare professionals.
