University Continues to Rise in U.S. News & World Report’s Annual College Rankings

The University of New Haven is ranked #55 in the North region, up four spots from last year and nearly 40 spots from three years ago. The University was also recognized as a top school for veterans, as well as for undergraduate engineering programs.

September 22, 2021

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications

Devika Singh ’22 transferred to the University of New Haven from Florida to study mechanical engineering. Besides enjoying the winters in New England, she is grateful to be at the University because of the myriad opportunities she has had in and out of the classroom. She especially enjoys the immersive and hands-on projects she has completed in her classes, and she says the support of her dedicated professors has been invaluable.

“I learn better by doing a project rather than by reading textbooks,” explains Singh, a Charger Ambassador for the University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions. “My classes have prepared me for my career. My professors are amazing, and they help me a lot. Dr. Gorthala is my adviser, and he introduced me to research projects that are interesting and fun to work on. I had my first engineering class with Dr. Gillespie, and she made it fun and interactive. It's one of the classes I will never forget.”

The meaningful experiences and opportunities that the University offers to students such as Singh have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report, which ranked the University #55 in the North region. The University’s ranking is up four spots from last year, and nearly 40 spots from three years ago. The University’s U.S. News ranking has improved each of the last five years.

‘Fantastic professors’

U.S. News & World Report also recognized the University’s engineering programs, which are accredited by ABET, a leading organization that accredits programs in applied and natural science, computing, and engineering and engineering technology, ranking the University #62 in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs – up ten spots from last year.

Ryan Horgan ’23, a computer science major in the Tagliatela College of Engineering, cites the small class sizes and the “fantastic professors” among the best things about studying at the University of New Haven.

“I love the depth the program offers with its many different areas I can explore,” said Horgan, who also serves as a Charger Ambassador, as well as an academic peer mentor. “My fellow students and I are part of the tight-knit computer science community, which means reaching out for help is just a text message away.”

‘This is a great school to be attending’

As part of its 2022 rankings, U.S. News & World Report assessed nearly 1,500 bachelor’s degree-granting schools in the U.S. on 17 measures of academic quality, including student/faculty ratios and graduation and retention rates. The annual college rankings are a go-to resource for high school students, families, and guidance counselors.

The University’s latest ranking reflected increases in its predicted graduation rate and actual graduation rate. In addition, the average SAT scores for incoming students improved for the fourth year in a row.

In the 2022 rankings, the University was also included among the best colleges for veterans in the North region. It was ranked #19, up from #31 last year. U.S. News & World Report ranks GI Bill®-certified institutions that participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

“The program for veterans and service members is small, so it is easy to meet new people or to reach out to other veterans,” said Cody DiBlasio ’23, a criminal justice major who served in the U.S. Navy. “We have our lounge that makes it easy to hang out with each other. I was also able to start playing with the men’s rugby club through the support of veterans, and the coach is a veteran, too. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, this is a great school to be attending.”

‘I like encouraging more girls to pursue engineering’

Recently, the University was included on Military Times’s 2021 list of “Best for Vets: Colleges.” It was also included among the 2021 “Top Colleges” list” compiled by Colleges of Distinction, as well as The Princeton Review’s annual go-to guidebook of the nation’s top colleges and universities.

Singh, the mechanical engineering major from Florida, says she’s grateful for the opportunities she’s had outside of the classroom as well – including the chance to share her passion for engineering with prospective students. Her role as a Charger Ambassador has enabled her to do just that, while also enhancing her confidence.

“I like encouraging more girls to pursue engineering because we have the ability to do something we love,” she said. “Serving as a Charger Ambassador has helped me to open up more as an individual, because I was a very shy person before that.”