Marywood University Earns Strong National and Statewide Rankings from Niche Marywood University has earned strong national, statewide and regional recognition in the 2027 Niche College Rankings, which evaluated more than 4,000 colleges and universities across the United States. Marywood earned notable placements across a wide range of categories, demonstrating the University’s strength in academics, value, student experience, and several of its signature programs. Among Marywood’s 2027 rankings are: #63 Best Catholic Colleges in America #7 Best Catholic Colleges in Pennsylvania #47 Best Colleges for Architecture in America #10 Best Colleges for Education in Pennsylvania #23 Best Value Colleges in Pennsylvania #30 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania A grade for Student Wellness Marywood also ranks #16 among the Best Small Colleges in Pennsylvania, the highest-ranked local institution in the category. The University earned additional high marks for Best College Dorms in Pennsylvania (#7), Best College Campuses in Pennsylvania (#23), Top Private Universities in Pennsylvania (#25), Best College Food in Pennsylvania (#25) and Colleges with the Best Academics in Pennsylvania (#27), along with positive placements in numerous other categories. Niche combines data from sources including the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation with enrollment and alumni earnings statistics, tuition and financial aid information, and more than one million student and alumni reviews. Marywood’s strong showing across academic, value, campus, and student experience categories reflects the University’s continued commitment to “students first”, providing students with an exceptional education and an environment in which they can thrive. To view Marywood University’s complete list of rankings, go to niche.com/colleges/marywood-university/rankings.
Johnson College receives final contribution from Peoples Security Bank & Trust for innovation campaign Johnson College received a final $30,000 contribution from Peoples Security Bank & Trust, completing the bank’s $150,000 commitment to the College’s Innovation at Work Capital Campaign. Through its support of the campaign, Peoples Security Bank & Trust helped Johnson College make significant investments in its campus and educational programs, providing students with modern learning spaces, technology and equipment. The Innovation at Work Capital Campaign was a $5 million initiative focused on supporting continued growth and student success at Johnson College. The campaign supported the construction of Ideal Saldi Hall, expansion of the building trades labs, which became Bracey Hall, and the College’s Annual Fund and student scholarships. These investments have strengthened Johnson College’s ability to provide students with the education, technology and resources needed to prepare for successful careers. To learn more about the Innovation at Work Capital Campaign and the impact of the campaign’s investments, click here.
Johnson College to host 2026 Celebration of Industry; announces honorees Johnson College will host its 2026 Celebration of Industry on Thursday, September 24, 2026. The event will begin at 5:30 pm at Hotel Anthracite in Carbondale and will honor the Genzlinger Family, Marshall Machinery and Rob Grimm of Grimm Construction Inc. The honorees were chosen because of their leadership in strengthening the regional workforce, advancing their industries and contributing to the economic strength of northeastern Pennsylvania. The Genzlinger Family will be honored for leadership in hospitality, historic preservation and regional economic development. The family has helped restore historic properties and expand tourism and business development across northeastern Pennsylvania through Settlers Hospitality Group. Marshall Machinery was founded in 1959 and provides equipment sales, rentals, parts and service to its customers. It was chosen as an honoree due to its support of agriculture, construction and related industries across Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. Robb Grimm, vice-president of Grimm Construction Inc., will be honored for leading the family-owned construction company that has served Wayne County and surrounding Pennsylvania communities for more than 50 years. The company provides residential, commercial and industrial construction services. “The Genzlinger Family, Marshall Machinery, and Rob Grimm exemplify strong industry leadership and community commitment that help drive our region forward,” said Dr. Katie Pittelli, president and CEO of Johnson College. “Their investment in workforce development and career and technical education is helping create meaningful opportunities for students to gain the skills, experience and connections needed to succeed in essential careers and strengthening the industries that depend on them.” More than 200 business and community leaders are expected to attend the 2026 Celebration of Industry, and proceeds from the event will benefit the College’s Annual Fund, which enhances academic programs, student resources and facilities. Those interested in attending the 2026 Celebration of Industry can buy tickets here or by contacting Patty DeScipio at pdescipio@johnson.edu or (570) 702-8860.
The University of Scranton Ranked in U.S. News For more than 30 consecutive years U.S. News has ranked The University of Scranton in the top 10 “Best Regional Universities in North.” U.S. News & World Report has once again ranked The University of Scranton among the top 10 regional universities in the north, placing Scranton No. 6 in its 2025 edition of the “Best Colleges” guidebook, which became available online today. This marks the 31st consecutive year the U.S. News has ranked Scranton in the top 10 in its category. U.S. News ranked Scranton No. 6 among “Best Regional Universities in the North” in its 2025 “Best Colleges” guide, marking the 31st consecutive year that Scranton was ranked in the top 10 universities in its category. U.S. News also ranked Scranton No. 6 in its category for “Best Undergraduate Teaching,” a selection of the top colleges in the nation that express a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching. Three of Scranton’s academic programs were among the top 50 in the nation. U.S. News ranked Scranton among the nation’s “Best Undergraduate Programs in Analytics” at No. 26 in the U.S.; “Best Undergraduate Programs in Accounting” at No. 41; among the “Best Undergraduate Programs in Finance” at No. 43. Other programs also enjoyed national recognition: “Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs” at No. 149; and among “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs” at No. 190 (where a doctorate is not offered). Scranton’s was also listed among the 584 “Best Undergraduate Computer Science Programs” in the nation. Scranton also ranked No. 248 among America’s “Best Undergraduate Business Programs,” which listed only schools that hold accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). For these program listings, U.S. News only ranked schools holding the highest recognized national accreditations in their fields. The rankings were based solely on dean and senior faculty recommendations from peer institutions. In addition, U.S. News ranked Scranton No. 53 as a “Best Value Regional University in the North,” which compares academic quality of programs to cost of attendance. This is the 11th consecutive year U.S. News has recognized Scranton as a “Best Value” school. Scranton was ranked No. 116 in its category in “Top Performers on Social Mobility,” which looks at the success of schools that enroll and graduate students who were awarded with Pell Grants. U.S. News uses data on nearly 20 measures of academic quality to rank bachelor’s degree colleges in America. For its rankings, U.S. News considers a range of quality indicators that include a peer assessment of academic excellence; faculty resources; financial resources; graduate indebtedness; freshman retention; graduation rates; Pell graduation rates, and graduation performance rates, which compares a school’s actual graduation rates with predicted graduation rates based on characteristics of the incoming class. U.S. News ranking analysis also includes student selectivity, as measured by SAT or ACT scores and high school ranking of students in the top 25 percent of their class. U.S. News categorizes colleges for their rankings based on the official Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classification of universities. The 2025 U.S. News “Best Colleges” rankings became available online Sept. 24.
Johnson College to Host Open House Johnson College will hold an on-campus Open House on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m. on its Scranton campus. To register to attend the Open House, visit Johnson.edu/openhouse or contact Johnson College’s Enrollment Department at 570-702-8856 or enroll@johnson.edu. The Open House will include discussions about the admissions process, information about financial aid for those who qualify, and student services such as student life, student support, and career services. Plus, same-day acceptance will be available for many programs if students bring their high school or college transcripts. Tours of each technical area will be conducted, and program directors and instructors will be available to review the specifics of their programs.
Johnson College to Hold Instant Enrollment Decision Day Johnson College is hosting an Instant Decision Day for prospective students on Thursday, June 20, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at both the College’s Scranton and Hazleton campuses. To register to attend, visit johnson.edu/instant. During the Instant Decision event, Johnson College will provide prospective students with an immediate enrollment decision. Students must supply their high school and/or college transcripts. It is highly recommended that the prospective student completes a Johnson College application before attending. Applications for Johnson College’s Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiologic Technology, and Veterinary Nursing programs are excluded from instant decisions.
Keystone College Signs Letter of Intent for Strategic Alliance On May 24, 2024, Keystone College announced that it has signed a letter of intent with a strategic partner to form a new alliance that provides Keystone with a more secure roadmap for a long-term path forward. Both parties have agreed to keep the name of the partner and details of the agreement private at this time. The letter of intent creates the means for both parties to move expeditiously to a definitive agreement, which will require the approval of the College’s accreditor, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). MSCHE has been notified of the parties’ intentions. Approvals from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the United States Department of Education, as well as the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, will also be necessary. During the review period, which is expected to take up to a year, Keystone intends to continue operation of classes, as well as all other college activities and intercollegiate sports, and continues to accept and enroll freshman and transfer students for the Fall 2024 semester. The executed agreement stipulates that day-to-day operations of the College and its academic mission will remain essentially unchanged. Additional details of the agreement will be made available after reviews by the necessary accrediting and regulatory agencies. “Keystone College is very fortunate to have secured this letter of intent with a committed strategic partner as we navigate the future of the College in this highly competitive education marketplace together,” said Keystone President John F. Pullo, Sr. “The entire College community is grateful to our partner for the shared commitment to Keystone’s future. Over the past two months, our talks have solidified a collective determination to secure a path forward for Keystone, which will continue to offer a quality education at an affordable cost to our students while also seeking to expand opportunities for a diverse array of learners across the ever-changing landscape in higher education.” Pullo continued, “While this newly executed letter of intent creates a renewed path forward, there is still a significant effort ahead to create a more durable future for the College. At the same time, we are delighted and energized by this opportunity. We have shared these documents with Middle States and will work very closely with them on these items as well as the information required for submission at the beginning of August.” On May 15, the College submitted all of the necessary components of an “implementable teach-out plan” and a Supplemental Information Report (SIR) as requested by MSCHE. While both submissions are currently under review by MSCHE, Keystone did submit additional information to notify MSCHE of the secured letter of intent. “We are aware that there will be additional requirements to work through with Middle States as they review these documents and request additional information on the proposed alliance. We intend to be in frequent communication with them and to provide all of the necessary documentation,” Pullo added. The agreement brightens the future for the College. “While we understand the necessary work going forward, we are grateful for this commitment to continue the 156-year legacy of Keystone. The challenges that face many colleges and universities across the country are well-reported and are causing disruption within the industry. Keystone is extremely fortunate to be bolstered by this strategic alliance as we look forward to continuing to offer all of the opportunities and benefits of a Keystone education,” said Tim Pryle, Keystone’s Vice President of Enrollment, Institutional Advancement, and Marketing.
Lackawanna College Named a “2023 Great College to Work For” This honor places Lackawanna College as an elite company. Lackawanna College is one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to the Great Colleges to Work For® program. The results, released today in a special insert of The Chronicle of Higher Education, are based on a survey of 194 colleges and universities. In all, 72 of those institutions achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition for specific best practices and policies. Results are reported for small, medium, and large institutions, with Lackawanna College included among the small universities with 500 to 2,999 students. Lackawanna College won honors in the following categories this year: Professional Development Mission & Pride Supervisor/Department Chair Effectiveness Faculty & Staff Well-being Faculty Experience Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Lackawanna College was also named to the Great Colleges Honor Roll, a status granted to only 42 colleges each year who are highlighted most across the recognition categories. “This is a very proud moment for Lackawanna College. Our employees are changing lives every day and having a positive social and economic impact in our communities. In return, we strive to provide a supportive and collaborative work culture, that values their contributions and prioritizes their well-being. Our growth and successes have been a direct result of employee input, hard work and commitment. Thank you to everyone at Lackawanna College who help to make this a great place to work,” Lackawanna College President and Chief Innovation Officer Jill Murray said. The survey results are based on a two-part assessment process: an institution questionnaire that captures employment data and workplace policies from each institution, and a survey administered to faculty, administrators, and professional support staff. The primary factor in deciding whether an institution received recognition was the employee feedback. “This year we had our highest employee survey participation rate and knowing that makes this recognition even more rewarding,” said Renee Mundy, Esq., SPHR, SHRM-SCP. “Our employees live our mission every day and are committed to improving the lives of our students and our surrounding communities. It takes a special group of individuals to do that, and we are thankful for their dedication and grateful they have chosen to be part of our team. They are the reason we are a Great College to Work For.” The Great Colleges to Work For® program is one of the largest and most respected workplace-recognition programs in the country. For more information and to view all current and previous recognized institutions, visit the Great Colleges program website at GreatCollegesProgram.com and GreatCollegesList.com. ModernThink, a strategic human capital consulting firm, administered the survey and analyzed the results.
Johnson College Receives Contribution From Peoples Security Bank & Trust Johnson College recently received a $12,000 contribution from Peoples Security Bank & Trust to support the College’s Industry Fast Track/Dual Enrollment Program. Peoples Security Bank & Trust’s contribution to Johnson College is part of Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The program offers businesses a tax credit for supporting state-approved educational improvement programs. Johnson College is approved to accept EITC contributions in support of its STEM outreach programs and Industry Fast Track program. Johnson College’s Industry Fast Track program offers high school students from participating area school districts an opportunity to enroll simultaneously in secondary and post-secondary coursework at Johnson College. The course meets state requirements for high school graduation while providing college-level courses. Students remain enrolled full-time at their high school while attending classes at Johnson College.
The University of Scranton and Le Moyne Sign Memorandum of Understanding The University of Scranton and Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish new academic relationships and engage in other collaborative programs. Supplemental agreements create opportunities that each school can offer to new undergraduate students enrolling in the fall of 2023. The memorandum of understanding will allow the Jesuit schools to collaborate in ways that leverage academic strengths, faculty expertise, resources and technology to enhance further the quality and breadth of programs offered to students. The agreement also encourages the exchange of faculty members, research scholars and students, and facilitates jointly organized conferences and other programs, among other items. Under the innovative agreements, Scranton can enroll up to five qualified students for direct entry into Le Moyne’s Physician Assistant (PA) program after graduation, and Le Moyne can likewise enroll up to five qualified students with a guaranteed seat in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at Scranton. “The Memorandum of Understanding prudently leverages the existing resources and strengths of two sister Jesuit institutions that share a common mission of Catholic higher education,” said Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton. “The supplemental agreements already signed will provide access for our respective students to highly competitive, established programs in much-needed health professions. This is a win-win for our schools, our students and for the patients they will compassionately and competently care for in the future.” “This relationship will serve our students well and strengthen the work of both Le Moyne College and The University of Scranton in developing health care professionals who are so in need today,” said Linda LeMura, Ph.D., president of Le Moyne College. “I’m proud to be working collaboratively with Scranton on this and look forward to how this initiative will be mutually beneficial to both institutions.” The direct entry pathway for the PA program at Le Moyne is open to up to five incoming University of Scranton students accepted into its class of 2027 who will major in biology, biochemistry, kinesiology, physiology neuroscience or biochemistry, cell and molecular biology. High school applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 92 and have completed specific high school course requirements. They must also have 50 hours of documented shadowing or patient contact, among other requirements. During their matriculation at Scranton, students admitted to the PA Program pathway must maintain a minimum overall G.P.A., and an overall cumulative science G.P.A. of 3.4 or higher; complete an additional minimum of 700 quality patient contact hours; remain in good moral and ethical standing, and meet other program requirements. The pathway for the guaranteed seat in the DPT program at The University of Scranton is open to up to five incoming Le Moyne students accepted into its class of 2027 who will major in biology, biochemistry, or similar major that allows for completion of required prerequisite courses. High school applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 92 and have completed specific high school course requirements. During their matriculation at Le Moyne, the students admitted to the DPT Program pathway must maintain a minimum overall G.P.A., and an overall cumulative science G.P.A. of 3.2 or higher; and have verified 30 hours of direct observation of physical therapy patient care; remain in good moral and ethical standing, and meet other program requirements.
