You’ve probably seen the headlines. One year Fordham is climbing the ladder, looking like a lock for the top 60, and the next, it’s sliding back toward the triple digits. It's frustrating for students and confusing for parents. Honestly, if you’re looking at the Fordham University ranking US News provides for 2026, you might be wondering if the school itself changed or if the goalposts just moved.
The short answer? The goalposts didn't just move; they were dug up and replanted in a different field.
The 2026 Reality Check
As of the latest 2026 cycle, Fordham University finds itself at No. 97 in the National Universities category. That is a six-spot drop from its 2025 position of 91. If you go back just a few years to 2023, the school was sitting comfortably at No. 72.
A 25-place drop in three years sounds like a disaster on paper. But when you talk to the folks at the Rose Hill or Lincoln Center campuses, they'll tell you the actual "Fordham experience" hasn't declined. In fact, many of the metrics that used to help Fordham—like small class sizes and high alumni giving rates—were basically deleted from the US News formula recently.
How the Formula Flipped
U.S. News & World Report overhauled their methodology in 2023, and the ripples are still being felt. They started putting a massive weight (over 50%) on student outcomes. This sounds great in theory. They want to see if students from all backgrounds are graduating and making money.
But for private, mid-sized institutions like Fordham, this shift was a gut punch. The new system prioritizes "social mobility"—specifically how well a school helps Pell Grant recipients graduate. While Fordham does okay here, large state schools often have the sheer volume to outpace private colleges in these specific data sets.
Here is what actually makes up that Fordham University ranking US News score now:
- Graduation Rates (16-21%): This is the big one. If students don't finish in six years, the rank suffers.
- Peer Assessment (20%): Basically, a popularity contest where presidents and deans at other schools rate Fordham.
- Faculty Salaries (6%): This is one area where Fordham actually stays competitive because, well, it’s New York City.
- First-Generation Graduation Rates: A newer metric that has caused a lot of volatility for private Jesuit schools.
Where Fordham Is Actually Winning
If you stop obsessing over the "Overall National" number, the picture looks a lot different. Most people don't realize that Fordham's specialized programs are frequently in the top 20 nationwide.
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Take the Gabelli School of Business. Its International Business program is currently ranked No. 10 in the nation. That’s not No. 10 among "schools like Fordham"—that's No. 10, period. Their Executive MBA is also sitting at No. 10 according to Poets&Quants, and the full-time MBA is at No. 58 in the latest US News grad school rankings.
Then there’s the Law School. Fordham Law is a beast in the legal world, consistently ranking around No. 29 or No. 38 depending on the year. More importantly, it’s ranked No. 3 for part-time law programs and is a top-three feeder for the "Big Law" firms in Manhattan. If you want to work at a Vinson & Elkins or a Skadden, a No. 97 national ranking doesn't matter as much as the fact that the Law School is No. 3 for NYC employment.
The Jesuit Factor and Service Learning
One thing the US News algorithm has a hard time measuring is "Cura Personalis"—the Jesuit idea of caring for the whole person.
However, they do try to measure Service Learning, and this is where Fordham shines. They are currently ranked No. 21 in the nation for service learning. With over 3,000 students taking community-engaged courses every year, the school is deeply integrated into the Bronx and Manhattan communities.
You also have to look at Undergraduate Teaching. US News ranks Fordham at No. 25. This means that despite the "prestige" score being lower, the actual people standing in front of the classroom are considered some of the best in the country. You aren't getting taught by a sea of TAs; you're getting the experts.
Misconceptions About the "Drop"
Is Fordham a worse school than it was in 2022? Probably not.
The "drop" to No. 97 is largely a result of US News removing "Selectivity" (how many kids they reject) and "Alumni Giving" from the main math. Fordham used to get a huge boost because their alumni are famously loyal and their acceptance rate was relatively low. When US News decided those things didn't matter anymore, Fordham's "score" naturally dipped.
It's also worth noting that Fordham is currently tied at 97 with schools like Florida International University and the University of Colorado Boulder. These are massive, public research engines. Comparing a Jesuit liberal arts-heavy school to a 40,000-student state school is like comparing a boutique hotel to a Hilton. Both are good, but they serve completely different purposes.
Actionable Insights for Applicants
If you are a student or parent looking at these numbers, don't let the "97" scare you off. Instead, look at the data points that actually affect your life:
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- Check the "Best Value" Rank: Fordham is currently No. 77 for "Best Value Schools." This means the quality of education relative to the (admittedly high) price tag is still strong.
- Look at First-Destination Success: 94% of the Class of 2024 was employed or in grad school within six months. That matters way more than a magazine's list.
- Focus on the Department: If you're doing Business, Law, or Social Work (top 10%), Fordham is an elite choice regardless of the national rank.
- Visit the Campus: The vibe at Rose Hill (classic Gothic) versus Lincoln Center (urban high-rise) is a bigger factor in your success than a six-point move in a spreadsheet.
The bottom line is that the Fordham University ranking US News releases is a moving target. The university has already announced a new strategic plan to "move the needle" on these specific metrics, so expect them to fight back into the 80s or 70s over the next few years. But for now, use the rankings as a data point, not a verdict.
To get a true sense of the value, you should compare the specific department rankings for your intended major—especially if it’s in business or the performing arts—as these often tell a much more impressive story than the national average. Check the individual program accreditation and the "Return on Investment" (ROI) stats from Georgetown’s Center on Education, where Fordham ranks in the top 7% of all U.S. colleges.