Loyola ranked No. 23 in Wall Street Journal/College Pulse “Best Colleges” list
Loyola University Maryland was named one of the top universities nationally in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. ranking. Loyola ranked No. 23 among 500 universities on the list and No. 1 among Jesuit institutions and Maryland schools.
In addition, Loyola ranked No. 5 for career preparation, No. 22 for student experience, and No. 65 for impact on graduate salaries. Loyola received an overall score of 83.1, ranking high in salary impact (96), learning facilities (87), and character development (86) .
“It is outstanding to see Loyola recognized as one of the top 25 colleges in the country. We talk about how a Loyola education is transformational, and this ranking affirms that,” said Terrence M. Sawyer, J.D., president of Loyola. “The areas where Loyola excelled in this ranking, including graduate salaries and character development, align closely with Loyola’s mission and vision as a Jesuit university steeped in the liberal arts tradition. At Loyola, student outcomes and cura personalis—the development of the whole person—are paramount.”
Loyola was also ranked No. 223 for best value. WSJ/College Pulse’s analysis found that a Loyola education added an average value of $52,573 to graduate salaries.
“We are deeply committed to fostering an academic environment and experience where students are empowered to learn, grow, and examine their own values and beliefs before going on to meaningful lives of service and leadership and a commitment to continuous learning,” said Cheryl Moore-Thomas, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Loyola is invested in ensuring that our students succeed on our campus and in their lives after graduation.”
The WSJ/College Pulse ranking was developed in collaboration with Statista. The ranking scores colleges on three main components: student outcomes (70%), learning environment (20%), and diversity (10%). To inform the ranking, WSJ/College Pulse commissioned one of the largest-ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent alumni in the U.S. College Pulse surveyed 54,854 students between January and May 2024, combined with 57,230 responses from last year’s survey, for a total sample size of 112,084.
Learn more about some of the prestigious rankings and notable accolades that Loyola University Maryland has earned from major national, international, and regional reports, studies, and surveys.