TU ranked among the top universities nationally, globally

By Rebecca Kirkman on September 21, 2021

Not only is Towson University a top-choice institution in the U.S., it’s among the best places to get an education in the world according to a slate of recent rankings including U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly, the Wall Street Journal / Times Higher Education and Princeton Review.

Leading nationwide in inclusive excellence

U.S. News & World Report has again ranked Towson University among the best public institutions in the country. The publication’s 2022 Best Colleges rankings, released earlier this month, placed Towson University No. 99 among national public universities.

TU climbed to No. 70 in social mobility among national public universities, which looks at the number of Pell Grant recipients and compares their graduation rates to those of non-Pell Grant recipients at the university. TU’s minority and Pell-eligible student populations far exceed the national average for academic success.

“Towson University is a national leader in inclusive excellence,” President Kim Schatzel says. “This recognition of TU reflects the excellence of our world-class faculty, the relevance and rigor of our degree programs, the impact of research and our leadership as an anchor institution for our region and our state. All of this acknowledges Towson University is among the best universities in the nation.”

Washington Monthly puts TU in the top 35 national public schools

Towson University is in the top 35 national public universities in the 2021 College Guide and Rankings published by Washington Monthly in late August. .

The accolades don’t stop there. In the sub-category of social mobility, TU is 35th overall and is the only Maryland institution in the top 50. The university also ranked 10th among national universities in graduation rate performance, which includes the percentage of students who graduate in eight years.

When it comes to affordability, TU also gets high marks. The university ranked No. 30 in the Northeast region on the publication’s “2021 Best Bang for the Buck” list—the highest-ranking university in Maryland.

TU also made the publication’s roundup of America’s Best Colleges for Student Voting, where it is one of 16 institutions nationwide with a student voter registration rate above 85%.

A top choice—regionally and globally

In a global assessment of 20,000 institutions of higher education, the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) placed Towson University among the top 9% worldwide in its 2021–22 World University Rankings, released in April. Among the U.S. institutions on the global list, TU ranked No. 325. To create the ranking, CWUR assesses quality of education, alumni employment and research output.

Released Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal / Times Higher Education 2022 College Rankings placed Towson University No. 117 among public institutions nationwide. TU was also among the top national institutions for student outcomes, one of four pillars measuring factors like the salaries graduates earn and the debt burden they carry.

And Princeton Review again named Towson University among the best colleges in the northeast in its 2022 Best Colleges: Region by Region list released in late August.

The northeast list includes 223 universities in 11 states and the District of Columbia. The publication does not assign numerical rankings.

Students surveyed said they value the “sense of community” and feel that “being yourself is highly encouraged” at TU. They also highlighted the many “resources at our disposal if we ever need help academically, physically or emotionally” and say they felt prepared for their careers thanks to professors who are “willing to go the extra mile” and the “many internships” available in the greater Baltimore area.

Other University System of Maryland schools on the Princeton Review regional list include Salisbury University, UMBC and University of Maryland, College Park.

Not only does the publication tout the university’s academic rigor and inclusive excellence, it also recognizes TU’s commitment to sustainability.

The university was listed among the 416 honorees on the magazine’s 2021 Guide to Green Colleges released last fall. Schools were chosen based on their sustainability-related practices and programs, ranging from academic offerings and campus initiatives to career preparation for “green” jobs.

Excellence in IT, sport management, HR, education

In August, the 2022 Niche College Rankings placed Towson University No. 92 on its list of the Best Big Colleges in America. Highlighting the top four-year colleges with more than 15,000 students, the ranking is based on student survey responses alongside data from the U.S. Department of Education in categories like academics, value, diversity and student life.

Niche also recognized Towson University programs in information technology and sport management. TU came in No. 47 in the Best Colleges for Information Technology in America and No. 69 in the Best Colleges for Sports Management in America.

In addition to academic rigor, Niche also recognized TU for its vibrant campus community, ranking it No. 127 in a list of 1,612 Colleges with the Best Student Life in America.

And College Factual’s 2022 Best Quality Rankings, released Monday, recognized Towson University programs in elementary education and special education, instructional technology and human resources.

TU ranked No. 1 in the Best Schools for Elementary Special Education in the U.S. and No. 13 in Best Educational/Instructional Technology Master's Degree Schools.

The university was also ranked No. 4 in the Best Human Resources Development Master's Degree Schools.

Explore more of TU’s rankings and achievements.