Loyola ranked No. 19 in The Wall Street Journal’s “Best Colleges” list
Loyola University Maryland has been recognized as one of the top universities in the nation in The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Loyola is ranked No. 19 among 584 universities across the country, rising four spots from last year. The University is also the highest-ranked institution among Catholic universities, Maryland schools, and members of the Patriot League.
The University earned an overall score of 84.3 out of 100, with strong ratings in learning facilities (91/100), salary impact (88/100), and how likely students were to recommend their school to a friend (85/100).
“We are honored—and delighted—to be recognized among the top 20 higher education institutions in the nation by The Wall Street Journal,” said Terrence M. Sawyer, J.D., president of Loyola. “Now more than ever, our world needs college graduates who are poised to lead with a depth of knowledge and a breadth of human understanding. The Jesuit, liberal arts education at Loyola offers just that by combining outstanding career preparation with a focus on the development of the whole person, ensuring our students graduate ready to lead lives not just of success, but significance—helping others achieve success.”
Loyola was also ranked No. 51 for impact on graduate salaries and No. 81 for student experience.
“Loyola is a thriving academic community because of our talented students and expert faculty scholars who empower them to learn, grow, and reflect on their own values and beliefs,” said Cheryl Moore-Thomas, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president. “Our steadfast commitment to student success extends beyond our campus, as we strive to prepare students for successful careers and lives of service, leadership, and continuous learning.”
The WSJ/College Pulse analysis found that a Loyola education added an average value of $58,314 to graduate salaries.
The WSJ/College Pulse ranking was developed in collaboration with Statista, a global data and business intelligence platform. The ranking scores colleges on three main components: student outcomes (70%), learning environment (20%), and diversity (10%). To inform the ranking, WSJ/College Pulse surveyed about 120,000 students and recent alumni. The survey “measured factors such as quality of teaching and feedback, career preparation and learning facilities, and how likely students were to recommend their school to a friend.”
Learn more about this and other prestigious rankings and notable accolades that Loyola University Maryland has earned from major national, international, and regional reports, studies, and surveys.