WSJ Ranks Fisher among Best Colleges

St. John Fisher University has once again been named to the Wall Street Journal 2026 America’s Best Colleges list. Fisher placed No. 310 in the national ranking.

The Best Colleges list was developed and executed in collaboration with the WSJ and its research partner, Statista. On the ranking’s subcategories, Fisher placed No. 207 in Social Mobility; No. 281 in Student Experience; No. 336 in Best Salaries; and No. 336 in Best Value. 

“To be recognized by the Wall Street Journal as a best college—and to earn high marks for social mobility, student experience, and value—is a direct reflection of our commitment to student success,” said Dr. Gerard J. Rooney, president of the University. “At Fisher, access and affordability are key to ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive through transformative experiences that inspire lives of purpose.”

Institutions are assessed based on the learning environment, years to pay off the net price, degree completion rates, the likelihood of higher salaries post-graduation, and diversity. The publication conducted an independent survey of college students in the U.S. with around 120,000 undergraduates offering their view on topics including career preparation, learning opportunities, and campus life.

In just the last 10 years alone, Fisher has experienced forward growth and momentum that has enhanced the learning environment for students, attracted top candidates into its academic programs, and bolstered its alumni outcomes.

The institution has launched a slate of new programs that meet the workforce needs of the community, including the first online Pharm.D. pathway in New York State; the Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia and Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program; and a host of new undergraduate majors and minors, including athletic performance, human services, entrepreneurship and innovation, and neuroscience and behavior.

The University is in the midst of a multi-year effort to modernize and enhance campus and implementing a strategic, broad re-envisioning of teaching and learning at Fisher. This has included the creation of the DePeters Family Center for Innovation and Teaching Excellence; the modernization of dozens of classrooms across campus to include active learning spaces with modular furniture and cutting-edge technology; and new laboratory equipment.

Additionally, Fisher was the first college in upstate New York to implement the Apple program, providing an iPad in the hands of every undergraduate student at Fisher. Most recently, the University opened the doors to the newly modernized and renovated Lavery Library. The multimillion-dollar project – the largest capital project both in scope and investment in the institution’s history – has reimagined how students will research, study, and gather at the iconic campus space.

For more than a decade, Fisher has also achieved enrollment success, with the 2019-2025 period seeing the largest first-year entering classes of any five-year period in Fisher’s history. The incoming cohorts are among the most academically prepared and diverse classes, as well. The Class of 2029 is the most geographically diverse incoming class the University has enrolled, arriving at Fisher from 24 different states, Canada, and the Czech Republic.

Upon graduation, students consistently find professional success. First Destination Outcomes for the Class of 2024 report that 93% of those surveyed said their first destination outcomes were extremely related to their career goals; with the vast majority successfully finding employment or continuing their education. For students entering the workforce, Fisher graduates are finding careers with some of the region’s top employers and earning an average starting salary of $67,000.

A full list of the rankings can be found on the Wall Street Journal’s website (subscription required).