Top 5 Reasons Students Are Getting Ahead at Iona University
The momentum continues at Iona! From innovative academic programs to impressive internships, Iona is rapidly becoming a top choice for students nationwide
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. & BRONXVILLE, N.Y. — At Iona University, students not only gain the skills they need to succeed, but the real-world experiences that set them apart.
From top-tier internships and distinguished faculty to a vibrant campus life and close-knit community, Iona paves the way for Gaels to make their mark in the world.
As the momentum continues, Iona recently welcomed its largest and most selective class in over 20 years. Iona is also regularly included in notable national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been recognized by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others as one of the nation’s best colleges. Additionally, Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranks an Iona degree in the top 5 percent nationally for long-term return on investment, reflecting the earning power of an Iona education.
To learn more about Iona University, explore Freshman Admissions online, email admissions@iona.edu or call (800) 231-IONA.
Here are the Top 5 reasons Iona students are getting ahead both on campus and beyond!
#1: Top-Tier Internship Opportunities
At Iona, students obtain a robust liberal arts education and unparalleled access to top-tier internships. Iona’s prime location in Westchester County, N.Y., located just 20 miles from the heart of New York City, also opens a world of opportunity.
Iona students have recently enjoyed internships at leading companies such as Google, IBM, Major League Baseball, NBC Universal, HEINEKEN® USA, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Merrill Lynch, Ernst & Young (EY), Alvarez & Marsal, Associated Capital Group and others. These internships are a great way for students to build confidence, explore their career interests and gain an inside look into their chosen industries. These experiences can also lead to full-time positions, giving Iona graduates a significant edge up in the job market.
Following a successful summer internship at Procter & Gamble, Silas Gates ’24 was offered a full-time position – which he said was “an ode to Iona.”
“There [were] many networking opportunities, internship openings and jobs available to me without having to be too far away from school,” he said. “I wanted to build my professional experience while achieving a degree. Iona gave me the best opportunity to do both.”
#2: AI-Driven, Cutting-Edge Curriculum
In a rapidly changing world, Iona is focused on innovating and expanding its programs to prepare students for the future – especially given the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI). Taking an AI-driven approach across all disciplines, Iona has launched the AI@Iona initiative to ensure students and faculty stay ahead of the curve in a tech-driven world.
Through the Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning, all students and faculty are actively encouraged to leverage AI tools, infusing the power of this transformative technology into the practice of teaching and learning.
Rob Kissner, clinical lecturer in Iona’s Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, was an early adopter of AI tools and helped to launch Iona’s new AI minor.
“Students need to be equipped with the ability to use the current tools and the mindset to continue to experiment with new AI tools as they emerge,” he said. “Those who do not possess these skills and mindset will lose out on opportunities to those who do.”
#3: Vibrant, Spirited Campus Life
Reflecting Iona’s efforts to offer an engaging student experience, enrollment has surged over the past five years. With newly renovated residence halls and a new dining hall and student union coming soon, students are even more excited to become Gaels.
In fact, The Wall Street Journal ranked Iona among the best in New York and in the Top 25 nationwide for student experience, according to its 2025 list of “Best Colleges in the U.S.”
Also, there are over 80 clubs and leadership organizations at Iona, as well as many opportunities in the performing arts, 16 club sports and 24 NCAA Division I Athletics programs.
Whether it be through service-learning opportunities or hands-on research experience alongside faculty members, Iona students are encouraged to learn outside the lines of the classroom as they develop their leadership skills.
For Iona’s Grace Mutze ’25, marketing major and president of Gamma Lambda Rho sorority, she truly appreciates being a part of a tight-knit community.
“Everyone wants to see each other succeed, from professors to classmates. It's more than just a school – it's a family,” she said.
#4: Accelerated, Dual-Degree Programs
When it comes to academics, Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of undergraduate and graduate degree programs across three schools.
Notably, Iona’s dual-degree programs empower students to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in just five years, reducing time and tuition costs. At this accelerated pace, students can begin a promising career sooner. Enrollees in the 4+1 programs are also eligible for a variety of scholarships and/or merit awards.
According to recent alumnus Joshua Gitters ’18, ’19MS, who graduated with a dual degree in computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity, Iona not only provides an up-to-date curriculum, but also incredible internship opportunities. He firmly believes his internship at IBM was a catalyst for his career.
“One of the best parts about going to Iona was its connections to get students internships,” he said. “I was able to gain industry knowledge and get professional experience. I was also able to turn that into a full-time position once I graduated.”
#5: Gaels Take Care of Gaels
Iona boasts an engaged and active alumni network of over 50,000 members who provide invaluable mentorship, career guidance and job placement support through initiatives like the Gaels Go Further Mentoring Program.
The Princeton Review noted that Iona students say there are “a lot of resources available” and “a huge network of support that will allow you to pursue your dreams.”
Michael Faughnan ’24, ’25MBA, a finance and accounting double major now earning his MBA, credits Iona for shaping his career’s trajectory.
As a summer intern at Ernst & Young (EY), one of the largest accounting firms in the nation, he used his Iona education to tackle real-world challenges and get ahead in the job market – with the extra guidance of his alumni mentor.
“The most distinctive advantage I have gained from my experience at Iona is having personal connections with my professors who want to see me become successful,” he said. “Through these connections, I was introduced to the Gaels Go Further Program, where I have an alumni mentor who guides me through difficult career decisions.”
To learn more about Iona University, explore Freshman Admissions online, email admissions@iona.edu or call (800) 231-IONA.
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.