Marist Recognized as Top 10 Regional University

Marist was recently ranked as a top 10 regional university by US News. Courtesy of Marist.

Marist has been recognized by the U.S. News and World Report 2022 ranking as the tenth best regional university in the North. The college was also named the third most innovative school in the region and the seventh overall college for undergraduate teaching. 

“I love the interactive environment in my philosophy class in which everyone is encouraged to speak up, Adele Alexander ‘25 said. “My professors seem to be knowledgeable in what they are teaching and I also find that the campus cultivates a studious atmosphere.

Last year, the college was ranked as the eleventh best regional university in the North. After students had success in the classroom in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the college received a higher ranking for 2022. The college is still operating in a pandemic setting, but with about a 96%vaccination rate, students and faculty are entirely back in the classrooms this fall. 

“Over the last decade Marist has been very intentional in how we have built our academic programs, which combine very distinctive educational opportunities and high-impact global experiences with an intimate liberal arts approach that provides highly personalized attention from faculty,” Vice President for Academic Affairs Thomas Wermuth said. 

With the undergraduate tuition set at approximately $63,000 including room and board in 2021-2022, the college was ranked #31 for Best Value Schools. Fitch Ratings, an American credit rating agency, also gave Marist an A+ rating for their financial outlook. Fitch reported that in March of 2020 when the campus closed because of COVID-19, Marist had to refund students about $13.4 million. Despite the challenges of 2020 and 2021, the college's finances are stable and have enrollment growth over the long term, according to Fitch. 

“Marist faces increasing price sensitivity as competition for students in a shrinking market is likely to increase,” the Fitch 2021 Report said. “Marist's strong student quality and student retention profiles and ability to draw from a wider geographic area are key strengths.”

Another advantage for Marist is the opportunities they offer students in study abroad and attachment programs. Marist was recognized as the third-best college in the United States for its study abroad programs by Open Doors Report. 

Marist offers two full-year study abroad programs for first-year students in Florence, Italy and Dublin, Ireland. Marist’s Florence branch campus was founded as part of the college's commitment to global education and serves as the main location for the study abroad program. Over 50% of all Marist students study abroad during their undergraduate experience. 

“The professors and students have been very engaged in the lessons which bring life to the classroom,” Raven Stanet ‘25 said. 

With six graduate programs at Marist, the college is working to expand its post-graduate degree options. The college has future goals of providing more graduate programs in conjunction with the school of sciences. 

The college has also found success in its Centers of Excellence on campus which provide opportunities to combine in-classroom learning with real-world professional experiences. The centers on campus include The Hudson River Valley Institute, The Marist Poll, the Marist/IBM Joint Study, the Center for Civic Engagement and Leadership and the Center for Sports Communication. Around 85% of students at Marist participate in a credit-bearing internship during their undergraduate experience. 

 “These are the very reasons why our students are very satisfied with their experience at Marist and are highly successful after graduation,” Wermuth said.

While the past year and a half has presented challenges for Marist, the staff and students worked hard to maintain the traditional academic excellence the college is renowned for. The opportunities available for students outside of the classroom prove to be a vital aspect of Marist’s success and will continue to drive the college forward in the years to come.