Brooklyn College has been recognized for lifting its incredibly diverse students up the socioeconomic ladder and for its overall quality and value by U.S. News & World Report for 2025. Now in its 40th year, the rankings evaluate nearly 1,500 U.S. colleges and universities on up to 17 measures of academic quality and place an emphasis on social mobility and outcomes for graduating students. Among Regional Universities North, Brooklyn College ranked: 1 for Ethnic Diversity 3 for Least Debt at Graduation 6 for Economic Diversity 8 for Social Mobility 15 Top Public Schools 15 Best Colleges for Veterans 39 Overall 46 for Freshman Retention Rate 49 for Most International Students “Once again, Brooklyn College has been ranked a top choice for students seeking an outstanding education free from a significant financial burden,” said Brooklyn College President Michelle J. Anderson. “We are proud of this recognition, which serves as a testament to our excellent students, staff, and faculty.” It is the seventh straight year that the college’s Diversity Index Number ranked first among Regional Universities North. In its methodology, U.S. News & World Report explains that “to identify colleges where students are most likely to encounter undergraduates from racial or ethnic groups different from their own, U.S. News factors in the total proportion of minority students, leaving out international students, and the overall mix of groups. The data is drawn from each institution’s fall 2023 total undergraduate student body. The ethnic categories used in the calculations are non-Hispanic African American, Hispanic, American Indian, Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian, Asian, non-Hispanic White, and multiracial (two or more races).” When calculating its rankings, U.S. News groups institutions according to the degrees they offer and award, naming the top national universities, regional universities, regional colleges, and liberal arts colleges. The distinctions are based on the number of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs that are offered by a college or university as well as the institution’s geographic location (North, South, Midwest, West). U.S. News publishes the Best Colleges rankings each year to provide prospective students and their families with the comparative merits of the programs at U.S. colleges and universities. The rankings offer detailed information of the institutions and data on factors such as outcome measures, including graduation rates, graduate indebtedness, and postgraduate earnings. “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.” The news follows Brooklyn College being named to Forbes’ “Colleges With the Highest Payoff” list and being featured in The Princeton Review’s Best 390 Colleges for 2025. More information about Brooklyn College accolades may be found here.
