WYOMISSING, Pa. \u2014 U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 “Best Colleges” recently placed Penn State Berks among the top \u201cRegional Colleges in the North.\u201d Berks is ranked No. 32 among regional colleges and No. 19 among top public schools. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis honor reflects what makes our college distinctive: a commitment to academic excellence, a culture of innovation and deep connections with the communities and industries we serve,\u201d stated Radha Pyati, chancellor and dean of Penn State Berks. “These strengths create opportunities for students to learn, explore and apply their knowledge in meaningful ways. As the world continues to evolve, we are focused not only on preparing graduates for successful careers, but on cultivating the curiosity, creativity and adaptability that will enable them to make a lasting impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to U.S. News, the rankings are an assessment of academic quality, using up to 17 measures of student success including graduation rates, earnings by major, and student-faculty ratio, to name a few.<\/p>\n
The U.S. News rankings amplify the college\u2019s recent Carnegie Opportunity Colleges and Universities \u2013 High Access, High Earnings Classification, a new designation by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Of the over 3,700 U.S. institutions evaluated, only 478 \u2014 or 16% \u2014 received this designation.<\/p>\n
\u201cProviding access and opportunity to students from all socioeconomic backgrounds and cultures is a defining feature of who we are at Penn State Berks. As part of a land-grant university, it is our North star and central to our values,\u201d Pyati explained. \u201cWe offer a variety of opportunities, like Aspiring Scholars and Engineering Ahead, two examples of summer bridge programs that help students from diverse backgrounds and get a jump start on college.\u201d<\/p>\n