While there was never any doubt in students’ minds that their alma mater is one of the best, Penn Staters can now proudly say that their school is one of the top 30 public universities in the nation.

Penn State was ranked No. 28 of all national public universities and No. 60 out of all 435 national universities in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges ranking. Criteria for these rankings include a wide range of degree options and research opportunities, academic leadership, and the involvement of senior faculty members.

“Penn State’s quality remains as strong as ever,” Penn State Executive Vice President and Provost Justin Schwartz said in a release. “We are among the top public universities in the nation and the world. We remain committed to excellence within our mission of teaching, research and service, and to providing access to a world-class education for all qualified Pennsylvanians.” 

Not only did the national rankings reach new heights, but Penn State also received 16 college-specific top-25 rankings. These include excellence in business, engineering, nursing, computer science, psychology, and economics.

The rankings further recognize Penn State as one of the top 40 schools for veterans. Penn State aims to ease the transition from the military to higher education through its large alumni network and abounding resources.