JERSEY CITY, N.J. – August 27, 2026 – Saint Peter’s University has been named on TIME Magazine’s inaugural America’s Best Colleges 2026-2027, earning recognition as a Top 3 private university in New Jersey and the No. 7 overall college or university in the state. Saint Peter’s also ranked in the upper tier of colleges and universities nationally, adding to a growing list of national and regional recognitions for the University.
The inaugural ranking, developed by TIME in partnership with Statista, evaluates colleges and universities across three primary areas: student outcomes, learning environment, and attractiveness. The methodology places particular emphasis on what students gain from their college experience relative to its cost, with student outcomes—including graduate earnings, graduation rates and return on education—accounting for 75% of the overall score.
For Saint Peter’s, the recognition speaks directly to the University’s longstanding commitment to upward mobility and student success.
“Saint Peter’s has always believed that where you begin should never determine where you end,” said Hubert Benitez, D.D.S., Ph.D., President of Saint Peter’s University. “This recognition from TIME reflects the transformative education our students receive at Saint Peter’s — an education grounded in our Catholic Jesuit mission and values, focused on preparing students not simply to enter the workforce, but to discover their purpose, pursue opportunity and define success on their own terms.”
As the only Jesuit university in the State of New Jersey, Saint Peter’s combines a rigorous academic experience with a deep commitment to educating the whole person and expanding access to opportunity. Its mission is rooted in the belief that education can be a powerful force for individual transformation and the common good—helping students from a wide range of backgrounds build meaningful careers and meaningful lives.
The TIME recognition comes at a moment of continued momentum for Saint Peter’s, as the University expands academic programs aligned with emerging workforce needs while remaining committed to the liberal arts, professional preparation and the values that have defined a Saint Peter’s education for more than 150 years.
For Saint Peter’s, being recognized among America’s Best Colleges is ultimately a reflection of what matters most: the students whose lives are transformed by the opportunity to earn a Saint Peter’s degree—and the futures they go on to create.
Read TIME’s methodology for America’s Best Colleges 2026-2027