WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y., Sept. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iona University has been recognized among the nation’s healthiest private colleges in Forbes’ 2026 Financial Report Card, earning an “A” rating and ranking within the top 16 percent of institutions evaluated nationwide.
The annual report evaluates the financial health and operational strength of private colleges and universities across the country. Iona received a score of 4.02, placing the University among a select group of institutions recognized for strong financial performance and institutional stability.
“To be recognized among the nation’s healthiest private colleges is a meaningful affirmation of the work happening across our community every day,” said Iona University President Seamus Carey, Ph.D. “This distinction speaks not only to Iona’s financial strength, but also to our continued momentum and growing national profile within higher education.”
The recognition comes at a pivotal moment for higher education, as colleges and universities across the country face increasing financial and operational pressures. According to The Hechinger Report, more than a quarter of private colleges are at risk of closure — a trend that can leave students facing rising costs, difficulties maintaining degree progress in the transfer process and uncertainty around degree completion.
Against that backdrop, the Forbes recognition underscores Iona’s continued growth and investment across the University, including expanded academic offerings, strategic campus initiatives and a sustained focus on student success and outcomes.
Academics Focused on the Future
A private, Catholic institution founded in 1940, Iona offers small classes, engaged faculty and diverse programs across the School of Arts & Science, LaPenta School of Business and NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences. The Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation also provides interdisciplinary opportunities and degree programs available to all students. Through the Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning, Iona is at the forefront of pedagogical innovation, exploring how artificial intelligence can enhance—rather than replace—the human element.
Iona’s highly accredited academic programs, combined with career development, a strong alumni network and proximity to New York City, give students access to top-tier internships and career pathways. The Gaels Go Further Mentoring program further connects students with alumni for personalized career guidance and networking.
Iona graduates are career ready and the results speak for themselves. Over 90 percent of graduates are employed or in graduate school within a year, with alumni working at organizations such as Goldman Sachs, Citi, Morgan Stanley, PepsiCo, EY, IBM, MLB and NewYork-Presbyterian.
It Pays to Go to Iona
Iona continues to deliver strong outcomes. For 2026, Iona has once again been recognized by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal and Forbes among the nation’s best colleges. U.S. News & World Report ranks Iona among the top schools for social mobility, while Georgetown University places Iona in the top 6 percent nationally for long-term return on investment.
Reflecting the momentum, The Wall Street Journal’s 2026 “Best Colleges in America” ranks Iona #5 among Catholic colleges nationwide for student experience.
Energy Across Campus
Iona’s campuses in New Rochelle and Bronxville—both just 20 miles from Midtown Manhattan—continue to thrive and evolve.
In New Rochelle, a new dining hall in the LaPenta Student Union anchors campus life, complemented by the Murphy Green and Mehmel Green. Plans are also underway for a cutting-edge media center in Spellman Hall to support Iona’s robust television, radio, podcasting, virtual reality, drone and esports programs.
In Bronxville, the Kelly Center for Health Sciences provides a state-of-the-art learning environment for Iona’s thriving nursing and health sciences programs. Bronxville also features newly renovated athletic facilities, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, performing arts spaces and a new residence hall. Residential upgrades in New Rochelle further enhance the living experience.
Globally, Iona’s campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the 400-acre Westport House Estate, offers an immersive study abroad experience in addition to many other service-learning programs worldwide.
The Momentum Continues
In the world of higher education, Iona offers something rare: a caring, close-knit community that never stops building on the momentum. From new academic programs and world-class facilities to a vibrant campus life and nationally ranked student outcomes, Iona is redefining what a modern, faith-based education can be.
Rooted in the legacy of Blessed Edmund Rice and the Christian Brothers, Iona has always embraced education as a path to liberation. Today, that Catholic tradition meets a bold culture of innovation—where the aim is not only to prepare graduates who are ready for their first big job, but to inspire them to create lives of meaning and purpose.
“Iona continues to invest in the things that matter most, including state-of-the-art facilities, extraordinary faculty and staff and the personalized support that empowers every student to succeed,” said Kevin O’Sullivan, senior vice president for Enrollment and Student Affairs. “An Iona education is truly transformative in shaping confident leaders, fueling professional success and proving that Iona deserves its place on the national stage.”
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of over 4,000 students and an alumni base of over 55,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. For 2026, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of the top schools for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 6 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review once again named Iona to its “Best Business Schools,” recognizing both its on-campus and online MBA programs. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.
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Diana Costello Iona University 914.633.2688 dcostello@iona.edu