Iona College Celebrates Top Ten List of National Rankings
Iona College ranked in exclusive lists highlighting the quality, value and opportunity provided to students
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Despite the challenges that COVID-19 presented to colleges and universities across the nation, Iona College has much to be proud of in 2020. In addition to being one of the first schools to successfully complete an on-campus living and learning experience this fall, Iona also ranked in prestigious national lists that reflect the quality, value and opportunity provided to students. In particular, Iona continues to stand out for its ability to deliver on the promise of social mobility and return on investment for students.
“Iona College is driven by a mission of providing an outstanding education at an affordable price to best prepare graduates for the road ahead. It is encouraging to see the value of our hard work reflected in these rankings,” said Iona College President Seamus Carey, Ph.D. “Gaels far and wide can feel a sense of pride in these recognitions – and I know the best is still yet to come.”
1: U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges”
- #22 – Best Undergraduate Teaching
- #50 – Best Regional Universities North
- #72 – Best Value Schools
- #94 – Top Performers on Social Mobility
U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges assessed 1,452 U.S. bachelor's degree-granting institutions on 17 measures of academic quality. This included statistics such as the student-faculty ratio and the average federal loan debt of graduates. The rankings also include information on application requirements, tuition, financial aid policies, student body demographics, and campus life. The college's individual profile pages have post-graduate earning data by undergraduate focus and user ratings and reviews submitted by alumni.
2: Money.com’s “Most Transformative Colleges”
Coming in at #19 nationally, Iona made Money.com’s ranking of “Most Transformative Colleges” based on its value-added scores for graduation rates, earnings, and student loan repayment.
3: A First Try at ROI: Ranking 4,500 Colleges
Iona ranked in the top six percent of all 4,500 colleges and universities nationwide based on its long-term return on investment, according to this report released by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW). The report ranked all institutions using data from the expanded College Scorecard, looking out 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 years after graduation.
4: The Princeton Review’s 2021 “Best Colleges: Best Northeastern”
The Princeton Review saluted the top 655 colleges across five zones that they consider academically outstanding – including Iona – featuring an additional look at the student body and campus life. This list does not provide a numerical ranking.
5: The Princeton Review’s 2021 “Best Business Schools”
Iona’s LaPenta School of Business was once again highlighted among the top in the nation by The Princeton Review. This elite list of best on-campus MBA programs was based on a combination of institutional and student survey data, including career outcomes, admissions selectivity, and academic rigor, among others. This list does not provide a numerical ranking.
6: Colleges of Distinction
- Best for Business
- Best for Education
- Best for Equity & Inclusion
- Best for Career Development
- Best Catholic Colleges
Colleges of Distinction hand-picked a selection of top schools that are well-equipped to provide a personalized education catered to students’ interests. Through a rigorous vetting and interview process for the 2020-2021 academic year, the list reaffirmed that the ranked institutions strive for excellence in line with four overarching distinctions—Student Engagement, Teaching, Community, and Outcomes. This list does not provide a numerical ranking.
7: The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings
The elite Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings highlighted only the top 800 colleges across the country – including Iona. Based on 15 performance indicators, this list was designed to answer the questions that matter most to students and their families: How likely am I to graduate, pay off my loans and get a good job? Does the college have plenty of resources to teach me properly? Will I be engaged and stretched in the classroom and get good access to my teachers? Is there a diverse campus community?
8: Washington Monthly’s “Best Bang for the Buck”
Washington Monthly rates schools based on what they do for the country. They rank four-year schools based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research, and providing opportunities for public service. Iona ranked #191 for 2020’s “Best Bang for the Buck: Northeast,” showcasing that Iona helps non-wealthy students obtain marketable degrees at affordable prices.
9: PayScale.com’s “College Salary Report”
No matter how you look at it, college is an investment — both of time and money. And some schools are simply doing a better job of setting their alumni up for success in the job market than others. With a typical median salary of $107,700 for mid-career alumni, meaning at least 10 years of experience, Iona ranked #193 on this year’s College Salary Report.
10: College Factual 2021
College Factual analyzed over 2,000 colleges and universities in its annual listing and ranked them in a variety of ways, including most diverse, best overall quality, best for non-traditional students, and more. Iona was awarded an impressive 26 badges in the 2021 rankings. Among other recognitions, Iona made the ranks for Best Colleges Nationwide, Best Colleges for Your Money, Best Colleges in New York, Best Majors and many others.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2025 national list of “The Best 390 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.