Happy graduates at CCNY, one of America’s top colleges, according to TIME magazine.
This summer alone, publications such as U.S. News & World Report, Money and education services company The Princeton Review® have affirmed The City College of New York’s reputation as a top value school both nationally and globally. Enter TIME magazine, which in partnership with Statista, has included CCNY in its inaugural “America’s Best Colleges 2026-2027” ranking.
The City College is ranked #162 in what TIME and Statista, the leading global provider of market and consumer data and rankings, describes as a quantitative study highlighting “institutions that excel at student outcomes, learning environment, and attractiveness in the United States.”
A public school, CCNY scored 71.25 for student outcomes; 76.42 for learning environment; and 63.25 for attractiveness. Its final score was 71.23.
“This year’s list highlights 500 colleges and is built on a rigorous methodology centered on student outcomes, including graduate earnings and completion rates. It reflects the real value institutions provide beyond student intake characteristics,” said TIME/Statista.
“Additional factors include learning environment and attractiveness indicators, with all data sourced from IPEDS and College Scorecard. For admissions and marketing teams, this recognition offers a strong, differentiated message to prospective students focused on outcomes and return on education.”
| Final Score | Student Outcomes | Learning Environment | Attractiveness | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford University | 96.36 | 95.21 | 99.82 | 99.75 |
| MIT | 94.59 | 96.44 | 81.77 | 100.00 |
| Harvey Mudd College | 94.39 | 94.94 | 90.64 | 95.92 |
| Princeton University | 93.50 | 94.35 | 85.10 | 99.67 |
Methodology
According to TIME/Statista the research project conducted a comprehensive analysis to identify top-performing colleges nationwide. Eligibility criteria required institutions to be: (a) Currently active and financially solvent—the institution is confirmed as currently operating and fully open
(b) Federally recognized and eligible—The institution holds active Title IV federal financial aid eligibility status (c) Public or private not-for-profit—For-profit institutions are excluded (d) Primarily four-year, degree-granting—The institution's primary focus is on bachelor's degrees or higher; exclusively two-year or certificate-focused institutions are excluded (e) Located in a U.S. state or the District of Columbia—Institutions in U.S. territories (e.g. Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands) are excluded (f) Minimum undergraduate enrollment—The institution must have enrolled an average of at least 750 full-time equivalent undergraduate students across the past four years. Read more.
About The City College of New York
Since 1847, The City College of New York has provided a high-quality and affordable education to generations of New Yorkers in a wide variety of disciplines. CCNY embraces its position at the forefront of social change. It is ranked #1 by the Harvard-based Opportunity Insights out of 369 selective public colleges in the United States on the overall mobility index. This measure reflects both access and outcomes, representing the likelihood that a student at CCNY can move up two or more income quintiles. Education research organization Degree Choices ranks CCNY #1 nationally among universities for economic return on investment. In addition, the Center for World University Rankings places CCNY in the top 2.2% of universities worldwide in terms of academic excellence. Labor analytics firm Lightcast puts at $3.7 billion CCNY’s annual economic impact on the regional economy (5 boroughs and 5 adjacent counties) and quantifies the “for dollar” return on investment to students, taxpayers, and society. At City College, more than 16,500 students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in eight schools and divisions, driven by significant funded research, creativity, and scholarship. In 2023, CCNY launched its most expansive fundraising campaign ever. The campaign, titled “Doing Remarkable Things Together,” seeks to bring the College’s Foundation to more than $1 billion in total assets in support of the College's mission. By May 2026, more than $500 million had been raised. CCNY is as diverse, dynamic, and visionary as New York City itself. View CCNY Media Kit.
Jay Mwamba
p: 917.892.0374
e:
jmwamba@ccny.cuny.edu