Loyola University Maryland has been ranked the top college in the state and No. 19 in the nation by The Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. list, moving up four spots from last year with a score of 84.3 out of 100.
The Wall Street Journal publishes this list each year in collaboration with College Pulse, an online survey and analytics company, and Statista, a data platform that provides statistics, reports, and insights. This year they evaluated 584 universities to determine their rankings based on student outcomes, resources, and career readiness.
President Terrance Sawyer expressed his excitement to be recognized on The Wall Street Journal’s list.
“We are honored and delighted to be recognized among the top 20 higher education institutions in the nation by The Wall Street Journal,” Sawyer said.
Loyola’s No. 1 ranking placed it ahead of larger Maryland institutions such as the University of Maryland, College Park and John Hopkins University. The university also placed first among Jesuit and Catholic institutions nationwide and No. 1 in the Patriot League. Loyola was also ranked No. 51 for impact on graduate salaries and No. 81 for student experience.
After the results were announced, Loyola students took to social media to share their excitement and surprise, sparking conversations across campus about the ranking process and Loyola’s continued rise on the list.
Josh Valentine ’26 did not expect Loyola to appear so high on the list.
“I was surprised we were ranked so high, but I think it was a pleasant surprise that we’re being recognized by a large journal like [The Wall Street Journal]. I think I would like a bigger breakdown of what got us to that high of a ranking and how we are compared to the various schools in these categories,” Valentine said.
Currently, the ranking is based on three different categories: student outcomes, learning environment, and diversity. Each category bears a different weight on a school’s ranking.
Student outcomes account for 70% of a school’s ranking. The metric highlights the impact a college has on its graduates’ achievements and how quickly alumni recover their educational costs after graduation.
The learning environment counts for 20% of a school’s ranking. It is measured through a large College Pulse survey of current students and alumni about learning opportunities, career preparations, learning facilities, and recommendations.
Diversity factors into 10% of a school’s rank. The diversity of a school is determined both by a university’s statistical data and student survey results.
Thanks to the school’s high ranking, first-year students say they feel reassured in their decision to come to Loyola and are excited about the opportunities ahead.
Makayla Sims ’29 is in her first year at Loyola and felt validated by the school’s high position on the list.
“It makes me feel like I made the right choice coming here. I’m really excited about this ranking, and I can’t wait to see next year’s cause I know it will be even better,” Sims said.
Transfer student Caitlin Cox ‘26 expressed her gratitude towards her decision to come to Loyola.
“I’m really happy I transferred somewhere that ended up ranking so highly. It reassures me that I made the right decision coming to this school,” Cox said.
To learn more about the rankings and Loyola’s performance, visit the school’s website or The Wall Street Journal’s official Best Colleges list.