HWS News
12 August 2025 • Alums • Service HWS Shines in Princeton Review Rankings with 9 National Honors
From Best Career Services to Top Student Support, HWS has been recognized as a top college for community, career and campus life.
The Princeton Review’s “Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition” published on Tuesday, Aug. 12, secures HWS as a leader among other colleges and universities in nine categories.
In The Princeton Review’s 50 ranking lists, the top 25 colleges are listed in categories covering academics, campus services, extracurriculars, career preparation and others. HWS ranks in nine categories:
# 3 Most Engaged Community Service
# 4 Their Students Love These Colleges
#9 Happiest Students
#10 Lots of Race/Class Interaction
#10 Best Career Services
#11 Greek Life
#16 Friendliest Students
#20 Best Student Support and Counseling Services
#20 Best-Run Colleges
The rankings bring together survey results from more than 170,000 students – an average of 435 surveys per school – across the country to find out what they love most about their college. The surveys were conducted in 2024–25 and the previous two academic years.
Surveys found that HWS undergrads have “an extremely high job placement rate.” Students attribute this success to, one wrote, an “outstanding” Career Services Office, which is “extremely supportive and provide[s] everything a student could need to be successful in a job interview.” Of note is the fact that HWS “works so hard [helping] students … find jobs in the fields [in which] they want to work” and continually fosters a “really good alumni network” to boot, survey respondents noted.
In describing life on campus, a student writes that the student life at HWS “is a vibrant tapestry of diversity and dynamism…that makes our campus life so distinctive.” Another student reports: “I would describe my peers as motivated, engaged...as well as generally kind and inclusive.” This leads to, a student writes: “the opportunity to have real conversations and debates rather than being in a political echo chamber.”
In describing the faculty, Hobart and William Smith students report that professors “not only care a great deal but go out of their way to push students and individualize the experience for each person." The Princeton Review writes that “small, discussion-based classes are a priority” at HWS, leading to a student citing “academic curiosity” as “truly remarkable” among students.
In addition to currently enrolled student surveys, the 2026 list includes surveys from administrators and from payscale.com data for alumni, who reported their starting and mid-career salaries and job satisfaction. PayScale reports the median starting salary of $69,100 and a median mid-career salary of $132,600, leading the Princeton Review to rate HWS’ Return on Investment at 90/99.
"The colleges we profile in our 'Best Colleges' book are a truly select group. They constitute only about 15% of America's nearly 2,400 four-year institutions" says The Princeton Review’s Editor-in-Chief and the book’s lead author Rob Franek.
“Our goal since day one on this project has been to provide multiple resources to help college applicants answer what is for most the toughest question in their journey to college, 'Which college is best for me? '"
- Best Schools for Making an Impact #9
- Best Alumni Network #10
- Best Schools for Internships #12
The ranking reflects the significant percentage of alumni who report finding meaning, fulfillment and purpose in their jobs.
HWS was also recognized for lists such as Best in the Northeast, Colleges That Create Futures and Green Colleges.
