Washington Monthly Ranking Reflects NJIT Values of Social Mobility, Service
New Jersey Institute of Technology rose 13 spots to no. 88 among national universities in a ranking based on overall value, service and social mobility, as determined by the non-profit Washington Monthly magazine.
The publication’s editors emphasized that such categories are important alternatives to traditional college rankings that tend to favor wealthy, private institutions.
“Instead of rewarding schools for their prestige, wealth, and exclusivity … we give points to those that help non-wealthy students earn remunerative degrees, encourage students to vote and serve their country, and produce the scholars and scholarship that drive economic growth and human betterment,” the editors stated.
NJIT’s commitment to social factors is exemplified in the new freshman class where more than 50% of students are underrepresented minorities. The number of first-year students identifying as Black has nearly tripled since 2013, and Hispanic first-year enrollment is exceeding 30% for the second year in a row. Even the campus itself was honored with a sustainability rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
“This recognition by Washington Monthly underscores our commitment to delivering educational excellence that is both accessible and impactful,” NJIT Provost John Pelesko said.
“Our climb in the rankings is a testament to the collective efforts of our faculty, staff and students, and a testament to the pride we all take in contributing to social mobility. The numbers reflecting our ranking, our diversity and our commitment to sustainability are not just numbers, they are a representation of our core values in action.”
Last week, a Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranking placed NJIT second nationwide among public universities.
NJIT has also been honored in 2023 with inclusion on best college lists by Money, Niche, and Princeton Review. The technical university in Newark, New Jersey earned a no. 1 ranking in a customizable study by The New York Times. Graduate programs in engineering and computer science were ranked highly this year by U.S. News & World Report.
