For the second straight year, Hobart and William Smith Colleges have landed a top 10 spot in The Wall Street Journal’s national college rankings — this time earning the No. 8 spot for student experience.
The WSJ/College Pulse 2026 “Best Colleges in the U.S.” report evaluated more than 500 schools across the country. The ranking highlights what students say matters most: a strong campus community, great facilities, and meaningful post-graduation outcomes.
“This recognition underscores what makes Hobart and William Smith distinctive,” said HWS President Mark D. Gearan. “Our focus on the student experience has created a learning environment dedicated to student success.”
A model for modern education
The rankings are based on student surveys and data points like net price and the added value of a degree in boosting salaries. HWS stood out for its commitment to personalized learning and engaged campus life — strengths that extend well beyond the classroom.
In his recent book on higher education, former Chronicle of Higher Education editor Jeffrey Selingo called HWS a “dream school,” pointing to the WSJ ranking and the Colleges’ emphasis on global engagement and one-on-one mentorship.
As Gearan notes, the impact of the HWS experience doesn’t end at graduation. Alumni benefit from a strong network, career connections, and relationships that last a lifetime.
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