WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Pennsylvania College of Technology is the No. 1 school for innovation —and for veteran students — as well as the No. 3 top public school in the Regional Colleges (North) classification in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 "Best Colleges" rankings, released Sept. 24.
Penn College is also the No. 5-ranked school among Regional Colleges (North) when all public and private colleges and universities are considered.
Now in its 40th year, the "Best Colleges" rankings evaluate nearly 1,500 national colleges and universities on up to 17 measures of academic quality, placing an emphasis on social mobility and outcomes for graduating college students. The rankings offer detailed information on the institutions and data for factors such as outcome measures — including graduation rates, graduate indebtedness and post-graduate earnings.
Penn College earned "Best Colleges" badges for its high performance in the following rankings categories:
- Most Innovative Schools – Regional Colleges (North), No. 1
- Best Colleges for Veterans – Regional Colleges (North), No. 1
- Top Public Schools – Regional Colleges (North), No. 3
- Regional Colleges (North), No. 5
“The 2025 'Best Colleges' rankings once again demonstrate the high quality of our applied technology academic programs and the overall value of a Pennsylvania College of Technology education,” said President Michael J. Reed. “Hands-on learning in STEM-related career fields — in 150-plus labs offering real-world work experiences — leads to a 97.7% overall graduate-placement rate and an enviable return on investment for our students and their families.”
“With the skills they acquire here, Penn College graduates are in high demand by employers in a host of essential career fields,” the president added. “We have more than 3,000 industry partners, and many of them tell us they will hire as many graduates as we can produce. Our ongoing exemplary showing in the "Best Colleges" rankings validates our unique educational mission and model. I could not be more proud of our team.”
U.S. News publishes the "Best Colleges" rankings annually to provide prospective students and their families with the comparative merits of the undergraduate programs at America’s colleges and universities. The complete rankings are available at www.usnews.com/best-colleges.
“For 40 years, 'Best Colleges' has continued to evolve as a trusted companion to prospective students and their families during the decision-making process,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News. “The rankings and editorial content offer crucial data as well as college advice and informed reporting to all who seek a college education.”
For more about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education and a special mission affiliate of Penn State, visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.