Indiana University of Pennsylvania has been selected for Washington Monthly’s annual “Best Universities and Colleges in the Country,” “Best Universities and Colleges in the Northeast,” and “Best Universities and Colleges Rural Areas” rankings.
This recognition follows the publication’s previous recognition of IUP for its “what universities do for the country” and the “Best Bang for the Buck” northeast rankings.
IUP is the only member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education selected for the 2025 Opportunity College and University-Higher Access, Higher Earnings designation by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education, which recognizes institutions with graduates who earn salaries that are 50 percent above (or more) than their peers in similar fields and institutions providing access to students that reflect the communities that they serve.
IUP has a longstanding commitment to research on all levels and in all disciplines. In spring 2025, IUP earned an R2 Doctoral University–High Spending and Doctorate Production classification from the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in its 2025 Research Activity designations, one of only two public universities in Pennsylvania and one of only 97 public universities with this ranking nationwide. IUP first received the R2 ranking in 2022.
Only six universities in Pennsylvania hold the R2 status, and only 139 universities in the United States have the R2 status. More than 3,900 colleges and universities are included in the ranking system.
IUP is routinely selected by national publications and websites for excellence. In January, IUP earned national and regional recognition from Research.com, ranking as a top college in the US, in the northeast, and among the top nine in Pennsylvania for quality, affordability, and value.
Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report selected IUP’s doctoral programs in education for its 2026 “Best Graduate Schools” rankings and IUP’s criminology, nursing, and education programs for its 2026 “Best Online Programs” ranking.
IUP has been included in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking for more than 25 years. Magazine editors evaluate institutions based on independent data sources, including the US Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.
IUP is included in the Princeton Review’s Best Colleges 2026, which recognizes IUP’s commitment to student success, individualized support, and the diversity and welcoming environment of the IUP community.
In addition to U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review’s Best Colleges guidebook, IUP has been listed in College Magazine’s top 10 colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, in Forbes Magazine as one of “America’s Top Colleges,” as the number two most affordable college in Pennsylvania by Academic Influence, and in a number of national rankings for excellence and affordability of online programs.
IUP offers 100 academic majors, more than 60 graduate programs, and more than 40 graduate degrees. In addition, students can complete more than 70 minors—including a unique teamwork minor—and scores of specialized tracks and certificate programs, including certificates in athletic coaching, photography and digital imaging, popular music, geospatial intelligence, and public history.
Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. IUP’s Impact 150 comprehensive campaign is designed to honor a legacy of educational excellence while looking toward a future of innovation, public service, and leadership in healthcare education, including the first college of osteopathic medicine at a public university in the commonwealth.