Brooklyn College was again ranked as one of the nation’s academically best undergraduate institutions, according to The Princeton Review’s The Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition, released August 12. In addition to earning this national recognition, the college captured the top spot for student diversity. In a newly introduced category, the campus was ranked no. 1 in the nation for the diversity of its student body, based on extensive institutional survey data. The honor reflects a defining strength of Brooklyn College: a campus alive with the voices, experiences, and perspectives of the world. Students hail from 142 countries and speak 94 languages, creating a vibrant community that prepares graduates to thrive in a global society. National media have taken note before. For six consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report awarded Brooklyn College the highest “Campus Diversity Index” in the country, measuring the proportion of minority students and the mix of ethnic backgrounds in the undergraduate population. The Princeton Review does not rank the schools in The Best 391 Colleges hierarchically from 1 to 391. Only about 15% of the United States’ nearly 2,400 four-year colleges are included in the guidebook. The company chose the colleges based on its surveys of 2,000 college administrators about their institutions’ academic offerings. The company also surveyed current students who rated their schools on dozens of topics and reported on their campus experiences. “Brooklyn College has outstanding academic programs, and the feedback we received about the college from its students we surveyed was very impressive,” said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief and lead author of The Best 391 Colleges. “We are delighted to name Brooklyn College one of our best colleges for 2026 and to recommend it to students searching for their ‘best-fit’ college.” Now in its 34th year, The Princeton Review’s prestigious guide draws on survey responses from more than 170,000 students nationwide, offering a comprehensive look at what makes each institution stand out—from academic excellence and affordability to campus culture and quality of life. Earlier this year, Brooklyn College also earned high marks in several other Princeton Review rankings, including Best Value Colleges, Best Northeast, and Green Colleges. Learn more about Brooklyn College in The Princeton Review’s The Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition and see what students are saying here.
