YU in Top 50 Among Private Universities and Together with Caltech as the Top 2 in the Nation for Schools with Fewer than 3,000 Undergraduate Students
With record enrollment, a surge in honors applications, and graduates achieving at the highest levels, Yeshiva University is fulfilling its mandate of combining academic excellence and values-based education to actualize every student’s potential. The latest U.S. News & World Report rankings underscore that success, placing YU among the Top 50 private universities in the nation, rising ten spots to #43, and #2 nationally among schools with fewer than 3,000 undergraduates, just behind Caltech.
“These rankings reflect our core values.” said Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of Yeshiva University. “As an elite, close-knit undergraduate school with fewer than 3,000 students, an acceptance into Yeshiva University is an invitation to join our intergenerational community of learners with the direct personal attention from the faculty to become rooted in the values of the Torah and the ideas that have long inspired Western civilization. Combined with the academic excellence that personifies our education, a student at YU leaves ready to succeed enormously in their personal and professional lives.”
The dedication to each student is similarly demonstrated in student-faculty ratio in which YU ranks #16 nationally. Rather than being taught by a TA, a YU student develops real relationships with their Rabbis and Professors who not only guide their personal development but also write their recommendations and help them on their career path.
“Professors at YU aren’t just educators, they are mentors who challenge us academically while guiding us personally,” said Betty Khirman, a senior at YU’s Stern College for Women studying psychology and business. “In class, discussions often continue long afterward, shaping the way we think, lead, and grow. I feel their investment not only in my academic success, but in me as a person.”
The latest U.S. News results highlight YU’s strength across multiple measures. YU is ranked in the top 3 universities in New York City, with Columbia and NYU, and remains the #1 Best Value School in New York City, proving that an education of the highest caliber can also be accessible and transformative.
The rankings build on a period of significant growth at the University. YU has the largest undergraduate presence in a generation and has seen a dramatic rise in honors applications, particularly from early decision candidates. These milestones reaffirm YU’s status as the flagship Jewish university and its appeal to top-notch students worldwide.
At the same time, outcomes for graduates remain strong: YU students consistently earn high GPAs, pursue advanced research, and secure competitive internships and career opportunities. 98% of YU graduates have their destination set six months after graduation, either in jobs or graduate schools. During their years of study, students benefit greatly from the Shevet Glaubach Center for Career Strategy and Professional Development and after they graduate the YU Alumni Network provides lifelong services and support.
YU students also distinguish themselves through leadership, community, and values. “At YU, we really have the chance to shape campus life,” said Nachshoni Rothenberg, a Yeshiva College philosophy major graduating in 2026. “Because those around us share our dedication as Jews, there’s freedom and support to step into leadership roles. That sets us up to make a genuine impact.”