HWS News
18 August 2026 HWS Earns Top Rankings for Accessible Faculty, Internships and Impact
From Most Accessible Professors to Happiest Students, HWS Earns National Recognition for Academics, Community Engagement and Student Experience.
The Princeton Review’s “Best 392 Colleges: 2027 Edition” published on Tuesday, Aug. 18, secures HWS as a leader among other colleges and universities in five categories.
In The Princeton Review’s 50 ranking lists, the top 25 colleges are listed in categories covering academics, campus life, extracurriculars, civic engagement, quality of life and social scene. HWS ranks in five categories:
# 4 Most Engaged Community Service
# 7 Most Accessible Professors
#10 Happiest Students
#10 Most Active Student Government
#12 Town-Gown Relations are Great
HWS was also recognized for lists such as Best in the Northeast and Colleges That Create Futures.
The rankings bring together survey results from more than 172,000 students – an average of 439 surveys per school – across the country to find out what they love most about their college. The surveys were conducted in 2025–26 and the previous two academic years.
Student responses highlighted HWS’ relationship-rich educational experience and engaged campus community. Describing the faculty, one student shared that professors “not only care a great deal but go out of their way to push students and individualize the experience for each person.” Another noted that faculty are “more than instructors; they are mentors whose expertise and teaching methods have truly ignited my passion for my current studies.”
The Princeton Review also points to HWS’ emphasis on small, discussion-based classes, noting that students describe the level of “academic curiosity” on campus as “truly remarkable.”
Students praised the campus community as “a vibrant tapestry of diversity and dynamism” and described their peers as “motivated, engaged ... as well as generally kind and inclusive.” One student emphasized that the environment creates “the opportunity to have real conversations and debates rather than being in a political echo chamber.” Students also reflected on opportunities for involvement on and off campus. From student government and community service to athletics and more than 100 student organizations, students depicted a campus where leadership and participation are part of everyday life. As one student noted, “We have so many opportunities,” while another reflected that at HWS, “you are able to be a leader in the classroom and on the athletic field.”
In addition, the 2027 list includes institutional ratings based on a combination of school data and student surveys. HWS excelled across all categories evaluated by The Princeton Review:
- Admissions: 88/99
- Academic Experience: 88/99
- Financial Aid: 92/99
- Professors Interesting: 93/99
- Professors Accessibility: 97/99
- Quality of Life: 89/99
- Green Rating: 87/99
- Fire Safety: 95/99
These recognitions build on HWS’ established national reputation for academic excellence, accessible faculty mentorship, community engagement and a student experience that prepares graduates for meaningful lives and careers.
"The colleges we profile in our 'Best Colleges' book are a truly select group. They constitute only about 14% of America's nearly 2,800 four-year institutions" says The Princeton Review’s Editor-in-Chief and the book’s lead author Rob Franek.
“For 35 years, our goal for this project has been to create multiple ranking lists and resources to help college applicants answer what is likely the toughest but also the most important question in their journey to college: 'Which college is best for me?'"
These accolades build on HWS' continued recognition by The Princeton Review. In its most recent edition of Best Value Colleges, the publication ranked HWS among the nation's top institutions for the 10th consecutive year based on academic quality, affordability and career outcomes.
- Best Schools for Making an Impact #9
- Best Alumni Network #10
- Best Schools for Internships #12
- Return on Investment at 90/99
The rankings reflect: alumni engagement, internship accessibility and career satisfaction with PayScale reporting median starting and mid-career salaries of $69,100 and $132,600, respectively.
