Hobart and William Smith Colleges have secured national recognition for their career-focused education, with The Princeton Review naming them a Best Value College for 2025 and ranking them among the top schools in the country for alumni support, internships, return on investment, and student impact.
Announced June 24, the rankings place the Colleges at #10 for Best Alumni Network, #12 for Best Schools for Internships, and #9 for Best Schools for Making an Impact among private colleges nationwide. HWS also earned a Return on Investment (ROI) score of 90 out of 99.
“These rankings are a testament to our longstanding commitment to our students that we are focused on their futures through a strong academic program that prepares them for lives of consequence,” said HWS President Mark D. Gearan.
The ROI score reflects not just high salaries—such as a mid-career median of $141,800—but also alumni-reported fulfillment and purpose in their careers. Rankings were based on academic excellence, affordability, student surveys, and post-graduation outcomes, including data from PayScale.com.
The Colleges were singled out for the accessibility of internship placements, the strength and engagement of their alumni network, and their students’ commitment to community service, sustainability, and civic engagement. The Princeton Review said its selected schools are “truly the most exceptional in the nation.”
“We are proud to be recognized not only for the quality of our academic and career programs, but also for the impact our students have on the community,” said Gearan.
The recognition comes ahead of the August release of The Princeton Review’s 2026 edition of “The Best 391 Colleges.”
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