For the fourth consecutive year, Stockton University has received national recognition for its high graduation rates among low-income students. The university was ranked No. 84 out of 225 public colleges and universities in the United States and No. 158 out of 434 on the Best National Universities list by U.S. News & World Report.
Stockton was also listed at No. 38 among national universities for social mobility, a ranking that reflects the institution’s efforts to enroll and graduate students from low-income backgrounds. This marks an increase of 18 places compared to last year.
The Chronicle of Higher Education recently placed Stockton among the Top 50 public universities nationwide for graduation rates of Pell Grant-eligible students. Pell Grants are used as a federal measure of financial need, and Stockton’s six-year graduation rate for recipients is 72%, which is nearly twice the national average of 39.1%.
“Stockton is proving that a public education can unlock real opportunity and upward mobility,” said President Joe Bertolino. “This national recognition affirms what we already know: Stockton is a community of opportunity where first-generation and low-income students are not only welcomed, but they also thrive, succeed, and leave us empowered to soar.”
The university has also been recognized as one of the best institutions in the country for veterans and their spouses. U.S. News & World Report ranked Stockton No. 112 out of 174 in its Best Colleges for Veterans list. Earlier this year, Stockton was named No. 10 among small public schools in the Military Friendly School survey for 2025-26, and No. 5 nationally in the Military Spouse Friendly Survey.
Other recent rankings include Washington Monthly placing Stockton at No. 57 out of 369 schools in its Best Bang for the Buck category in the Northeast region, as well as No. 117 out of over 1,400 schools for Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars.
Money magazine awarded Stockton four out of five stars on its Best Colleges list, while both The Wall Street Journal and The Princeton Review included Stockton in their respective college rankings for 2025.
Stockton University currently offers more than 160 undergraduate and graduate programs to approximately 9,000 students enrolled across its main campus in Galloway Township and its coastal campus in Atlantic City.
