Elizabethtown College Rankings & Distinctions
Elizabethtown College consistently strives to provide a top-quality educational experience to our students. With a proven record of doing so, Etown has been recognized by a variety of professional organizations as a top performer in the field of higher education.
College Rankings
A Top Regional University
Elizabethtown College was ranked #45 (tie) of Best Regional Universities (North) and fourth in Pennsylvania, by US News & World Report.
A Best Value School
Elizabethtown College was ranked #27 for Best Value Schools (Regional Universities - North) and fifth in Pennsylvania, by US News & World Report.
A Top Engineering Program
Elizabethtown College was ranked #46 (tie) for Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (No Doctorate) and fourth in Pennsylvania, by US News & World Report.
Best Undergraduate Teaching
Elizabethtown College was ranked #6 (tie) for Best Undergraduate Teaching Programs (Regional Universities - North) and #1 in Pennsylvania, by US News & World Report.
Ranked for Social Mobility
Elizabethtown College was ranked #146 (tie) in Top Performers on Social Mobility (Regional Universities - North) by US News & World Report.
Occupational Therapy Ranked Among Nation’s Best Graduate Programs
The Elizabethtown College Occupational Therapy program was ranked #8 in Pennsylvania and #95 (tie) out of 292 programs across the country for Best Occupational Therapy Programs by US News & World Report.
Recognized Nationally
Etown SGPS ranked #213 (tie) out of 348 bachelor's programs across the country and #10 in Pennsylvania, and #241 (tie) out of 323 online master's in education programs and #11 in Pennsylvania, on the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings for 2026.
Recognized Nationally
Elizabethtown College ranks #182 out of 584 national entries in the Wall Street Journal 2026 College Rankings.
A Best Mid-Atlantic College
Elizabethtown College is one of 98 colleges listed on the Princeton Review's "Best Mid-Atlantic" section of the 2026 Best Colleges: Region by Region.
A Top Master's University
Elizabethtown College ranked #402 out of 585 colleges in their Master's University Rankings by Washington Monthly in 2025.
A Great Value
Elizabethtown College ranked #314 out of 369 colleges in the Northeast region for Best Bang for the Buck by Washington Monthly in 2025.
One of America's Top Colleges
Elizabethtown College was ranked one of the Forbes Top 500 Colleges for 2026.
A Hidden Gem College
Elizabethtown College was ranked #45 for Hidden Gem Colleges by College Raptor for 2026.
A College of Distinction
Elizabethtown College has been named a 2026-2027 College of Distinction, Pennsylvania College of Distinction, and Private College of Distinction, and has earned additional recognition in the areas of: Business, Education, Engineering, Career Development, International Student Services, and Transfer Student Services.
One of the Best Online Human Services Degrees in America
Elizabethtown College has ranked #3 on the list of Best Online Human Services Degrees of 2025 by Forbes.
A Best College in America
Elizabethtown College was ranked one of the Best Colleges in America for 2025 by Money.
A Top Transfer Destination
Elizabethtown College has been recognized on the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Transfer Honor Roll for 2026. This honor, derived from National Student Clearinghouse and PTK Connect data, celebrates the top 25% of colleges excelling in supporting transfer students. Etown has been named one of the nation's most transfer-friendly institutions by PTK for the sixth consecutive year.
Best Online Human Services Program
Elizabethtown College ranked #1 on the list of Best 49 Accredited Online Human Services Degree Programs on Intelligent.com.
Top Online Accounting Program
Elizabethtown College ranked #43 on the list of Top 50 Online Accounting Degree Programs on Intelligent.com.
Best Masters Degrees
Elizabethtown College ranked #44 on the list of Best 50 Accredited Master's Degree Programs on Intelligent.com.
Top Online Associate Program in Healthcare Administration
Elizabethtown College has been named #1 for Top 25 Best Online Associate in Healthcare Administration programs by University HQ in 2025.
Best Addiction Counseling Programs in Pennsylvania
Elizabethtown College has been named #2 for Best Addiction Counseling Programs in PA and #6 for Top Online Bachelors in Addiction Counseling by University HQ in 2025.
Top Online Associate Program in Accounting
Elizabethtown College has been ranked #4 for Top 25 Best Online Associate in Accounting programs by University HQ in 2025.
Top Online Associate Program in Business
Elizabethtown College has been ranked #4 for Top 25 Best Online Associate in Business programs by University HQ in 2025.
Top Online Associate Program in Human Services
Elizabethtown College has been ranked #6 for Top 25 Best Online Associate in Human Services programs by University HQ in 2025.
Top Online Masters in Addiction Counseling
Elizabethtown College has been ranked #5 for Top Online Masters in Addiction Counseling programs by University HQ in 2025.
Best ACBSP MBA Programs in Pennsylvania
Elizabethtown College has been ranked #4 for Best ACBSP MBA Programs in Pennsylvania by University HQ in 2025.
Best Early Childhood Programs in Pennsylvania
Elizabethtown College has been ranked #6 for Best Early Childhood Programs in Pennsylvania by University HQ in 2025.
Top 50 Online Associate Degrees
Elizabethtown College has been ranked #6 for Top 50 Online Associate Degrees by University HQ in 2025.
Top Online Bachelors in Healthcare Administration
Elizabethtown College has been ranked #14 for Top Online Bachelors in Healthcare Administration programs by University HQ in 2025.
Best MBA Programs in Pennsylvania
Elizabethtown College has been ranked #13 for Best MBA Programs in Pennsylvania by University HQ in 2025.
Best Masters Colleges in Pennsylvania
Elizabethtown College has been ranked #16 for Best Masters Colleges in Pennsylvania by University HQ in 2025.
Best Online Colleges in Pennsylvania
Elizabethtown College has been ranked #10 for Best Online Colleges in Pennsylvania by University HQ in 2025.
Top Value in Pennsylvania
Best Value Schools ranked Elizabethtown College School of Graduate and Professional Studies #29 for the Best Colleges in Pennsylvania, Elizabethtown College as one of the Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Pennsylvania, #20 for Best Health Science Degree Programs, #13 for Best Bachelor's in Human Services Programs and #20 for Best Bachelor of Multimedia Design Programs.
Student Awards
Anika Hodgdon '26, Caitlyn Jensen '26, Alysse Smith '26, and Maegan Wingert '26 received TriBeta Research Foundation Undergraduate Research Grants. | Read more.
Mechelle Johnson-Reeves '28 received the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship and was also selected as a Reach the World Volunteer Traveler. | Read more.
Ernest Lloyd '27 received the Gilman – German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Scholarship. | Read more.
Jada Makar '27 was designated a Finnegan Fellow. | Read more.
William Medley '29 was selected for the National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center for Precision Microbiome Engineering (PreMiEr) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. | Read more.
Olivia Pituch '26 earned a Pennsylvania House of Representatives Fellowship, gaining hands-on experience in legislative research, policy analysis, and constituent services within the Commonwealth's legislative branch. | Read more.
View All 2025-26 Scholarships & FellowshipsFaculty Awards
Kirsten Johnson, Professor of Communications, is the recipient of the 2025-2026 Ranck Prize for Research Excellence. | Read more.
Oya Dursun-Özkanca, Professor of Political Science and College Professor of International Studies (Endowed Chair), is the recipient of the 2025-2026 Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising and Mentorship. | Read more.
Leyla Batakci, Professor of Mathematical Sciences, is the recipient of the 2025-2026 Kreider Prize for Teaching Excellence. | Read more.
Wendy Bellew, Education Program Chair and Associate Teaching Professor in Education, is the recipient of the 2025-2026 Schmidt Prize for Excellence in Student-Faculty Service. | Read more.
View All Faculty Awards