Felician University, a private, co-educational Catholic Franciscan university in New Jersey, announced today that it has been named one of the nation’s top colleges for women in Newsweek's "America’s Best Colleges for Women 2026." The university ranked No. 1 in New Jersey in the competitive 2026 rankings.
America’s Best Colleges for Women is a ranking developed by Newsweek in partnership with Gender Fair to highlight institutions that support gender equality and empower women. The methodology is rooted in the Women’s Empowerment Principles and evaluates colleges across four key areas: leadership, pay and policies, safety, and opportunity.
Felician’s mission is deeply rooted in ensuring that all students and university leaders feel supported, empowered, and motivated throughout their academic journeys. Out of 751 higher education institutions nationwide, Felician ranked No. 30 and received the following scores:
- Leadership: 75
- Pay and policy: 86
- Safety: 94
- Opportunity: 48
- State reproductive status: 5/5
- Overall score: 76.1
According to the university’s most recent statistics, women make up nearly 72% of its undergraduate population and 62% of its faculty. In addition to this strong female presence, three out of four academic deans are women, and the university is led by a female president who previously served as a professor and academic dean of the School of Arts & Sciences.
“This recognition from Newsweek is a meaningful affirmation of our mission,” said Dr. Mildred Mihlon, president of Felician University. “We are proud to continue educating, supporting, and mentoring future women leaders through the foundational principles of our Felician core values.”
The ranking identifies colleges that have established the structural elements necessary to foster education and employment for women by drawing on data from the U.S. Department of Education — including the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the Campus Safety and Security Database — as well as additional desk research. Only institutions meeting specific criteria for size and academic roles are included, ensuring the results reflect meaningful progress toward gender equity in higher education.
“Choosing a college is a defining moment for many young women, and it’s about more than academics alone,” said Jennifer H. Cunningham, editor-in-chief of Newsweek. “America’s Best Colleges for Women highlights institutions that are making measurable progress in leadership, equity, safety, and opportunity, helping students identify environments where women are supported and positioned to succeed.”
About Felician University
Felician University is committed to supporting academic success at any stage of life. With over 2,700 undergraduate, graduate, and adult education students enrolled across the Schools of Arts & Sciences, Business & Information Sciences, Nursing, and Education, Felician provides diverse learning experiences that equip all students with the skills to meet the demands of today’s society. Over the past five years, Felician University has consistently ranked third among private institutions in New Jersey for best value according to payscale.com and has been recognized as the No. 1 Safest College Campus in New Jersey according to niche.com. The Master of Science in Nursing program is ranked one of the best online graduate nursing programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. We are proud to be designated as a Military Friendly School (Gold Status) for the thirteenth year, a testament to our dedicated support of Veteran students. Our diversity as an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and MSI (Minority Serving Institution), with underrepresented students comprising more than half of the student population, reflects our inclusive and supportive environment. With campuses in Rutherford and Lodi, New Jersey, our Franciscan values of respect for human dignity, compassion, and social justice are woven into the very foundation and development of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University is proudly sponsored by Felician Sisters International (FSI). For more information, please visit felician.edu.
About Newsweek
Newsweek is the global digital news organization built around the iconic 93-year-old American magazine. Newsweek reaches 100 million people monthly with its thought-provoking news, opinion, images, graphics, and video delivered across a dozen print and digital platforms. Headquartered in New York City, Newsweek also publishes international editions in EMEA and Asia. For more information, visit www.newsweek.com.
Media Contact
Tricia Perrotti
Director of Marketing & Communications, Felician University
perrottit@felician.edu
