Pace University Rankings 2026

Pace University sits at number 273 among National Universities in U.S. News 2026. That overall number does not capture where the university actually competes, which is at the program level in law, business, and nursing where several of its rankings sit in the national top 50. 

The return on tuition investment argument is real for Pace. PayScale puts it in the top 9% of private U.S. colleges on that measure, and a 97% placement rate for masters graduates backs that up. For students weighing the cost of a New York private university education against what they get out of it, those numbers matter more than the headline rank. 

The sections below look at how Pace University rankings have moved over time and how it performs across different programs. 

Pace University in QS, THE, and U.S. News Rankings 

Pace University's strongest recognition comes through U.S. News national program rankings rather than broad global positions. THE places it in the 1501+ band, which reflects its profile as a teaching focused private university. In QS, Pace does not appear in the main World University Rankings but features in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026 at 1501+. 

Here is how Pace University rankings have moved over the past three years: 

Law, business, and health sciences are where Pace University holds its most competitive positions nationally and globally.  

Read all about the Admissions at Pace University.  

Subject-Wise Rankings of Pace University: THE And U.S. News 

The overall numbers do not say much about Pace University. What actually tells the story is the program level picture, where multiple top 50 national placements in law and nursing through U.S. News paint a very different picture from the headline institutional position. 

Here is how Pace University performs across programs in each of the major ranking bodies. 

THE Subject-Wise Rankings of Pace University (2026) 

Psychology is Pace University's strongest THE subject placement at 501 to 600 globally. Business and Economics, Education Studies, and Social Sciences all sit within the 601 to 1000 range. All figures verified directly from THE's university profile page. 

The table below covers THE subject wise rankings of Pace University for 2026: 

U.S. News Program-Wise Rankings of Pace University (2026) 

This is where Pace University's numbers are genuinely hard to argue with. The Elisabeth Haub School of Law has been ranked number 1 in the nation for Environmental Law for the seventh time overall and sixth consecutive year in 2026. The law school also holds strong placements across Trial Advocacy, Dispute Resolution, International Law, Tax Law, and Health Law, making it one of the most comprehensively ranked law schools in the country for specialty programs. 

The table below covers U.S. News program wise rankings of Pace University for 2026: 

Check out all Courses at Pace University.  

Pace University: Excellence and Achievements 

Rankings tell part of the story. What has actually built Pace University's reputation is a combination of landmark law school achievements, strong business accreditations, and career outcomes that hold up against much larger and better known institutions. The sections below get into the specifics. 

Academic Excellence and Recognition 

The Lubin School of Business holds dual AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting, a distinction shared by fewer than 2% of business schools worldwide. That is not a common achievement and it matters when employers assess the credibility of a degree. 

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law being ranked number 1 in the nation for Environmental Law for six consecutive years is the kind of result that does not happen by accident. The university also reports a 97% placement rate for masters graduates, and PayScale places it in the top 9% of private U.S. colleges for return on tuition investment. 

The table below covers key academic recognitions for Pace University: 

Innovation, Research, and Industry Impact 

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law runs four active legal practice programs including the Environmental Litigation Clinic, the Food and Farm Business Law Clinic, the Global Center for Environmental Legal Studies, and the Pace Energy and Climate Center. Students are not just studying environmental law, they are working on real cases and real policy challenges during their degree. 

On the business side, the MBA program ranks in the top 5 globally for job placement among LinkedIn Top MBAs, which is a direct measure of what the degree actually delivers after graduation. The Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems also saw its doctoral program improve in U.S. News 2026, reflecting continued investment in technology education.  

The table below covers research and innovation highlights for Pace University: 

Student Community and Global Presence 

Pace University has an undergraduate enrollment of 8,038 students as of fall 2024, with a student to faculty ratio of 15 to 1. Students come from over 100 countries and study across two distinct main campuses, one in Manhattan's Financial District and one in Westchester County about 30 miles north of New York City.  

The athletics program competes in NCAA Division II across 14 intercollegiate varsity sports. Notable alumni include Ivan Seidenberg, former CEO of Verizon, and James Quinn, former president of Tiffany and Co. 

The table below covers student community highlights for Pace University: 

Miscellaneous Rankings of Pace University 

Beyond THE and U.S. News, Pace University shows up across several other national and independent ranking systems covering career outcomes, student diversity, and experiential learning. 

The table below covers additional rankings for Pace University: 

Pace University Rankings vs Acceptance Rate 

Pace University has an overall acceptance rate of around 82%, which makes it broadly accessible at the undergraduate level. That number shifts quite a bit for specialty programs. Environmental Law, nursing, and business masters attract considerably stronger competition given their national and global recognition. 

The table below covers how program level rankings compare against admission competition at Pace University: 

Six consecutive years at number 1 for Environmental Law, a Wall Street Journal ranking that climbed 15 places in 2026, a perfect diversity score of 100, and a 97% graduate placement rate together make a strong case for a university that delivers well above what its overall national ranking position suggests.  

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