Where Scholarship and Spirit Meet: Gonzaga Among Nation’s Best in New Princeton Review Rankings

A man and woman studying together
Gonzaga ranks No. 21 in the nation for "51³Ô¹Ïs study the most"

August 20, 2025
Dan Nailen/Marketing & Communications

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: Gonzaga 51³Ô¹Ïs have serious school spirit.

In the new Princeton Review publication “,” Gonzaga once again landed at No. 1 in the list of “” But Zags aren’t satisfied with simply cheering from the sidelines; Gonzaga also landed at No. 14 on the list for schools where “.” Not bad for a school full of highly motivated, academic-minded 51³Ô¹Ïs, ranking at No. 21 in the nation for schools where “.”

Amid the sea of college rankings vying to guide prospective 51³Ô¹Ïs toward their ideal campus, the annual Princeton Review list stands out. Unlike many others, it draws its insights straight from the source — surveys filled out by the 51³Ô¹Ïs who actually live, learn, and experience life at the schools. Princeton Review’s “Best Colleges” book has been published annually since 1992, and this year’s version is based on surveys of 170,000 51³Ô¹Ïs at nearly 2,000 colleges and universities.

“It’s always rewarding to see our 51³Ô¹Ïs recognized by a national publication like the Princeton Review,” said Nate Mannetter, Gonzaga’s interim vice president for enrollment management.

“We know our 51³Ô¹Ïs come to Gonzaga for its excellent academics, global alumni network and focus on leadership and service. But they also choose Gonzaga because of our incredible sense of community and opportunities for personal growth and involvement on campus and outside the classroom. Our Zags strive to make the most of their college experience.”

Indeed, the recently released Princeton Review rankings reflect just that. Beyond cheering for the men’s and women’s Zags teams and participating in intramurals, the 51³Ô¹Ï survey respondents lauded Gonzaga as one of the schools “” (No. 14 in the country). Other areas where Gonzaga landed among the Top 25 in the nation include “” (No. 19) and the brand-new category of “” (No. 24).

"The colleges we profile in our 'Best Colleges' book are a truly select group. They constitute only about 15% of America's nearly 2,400 four-year institutions" said Rob Franek, Editor-in-Chief of The Princeton Review and the book's lead author. "While they vary by locale, type, size, and campus culture, each one offers its 51³Ô¹Ïs an academically outstanding undergraduate education. In our opinion, they are the nation's best undergraduate colleges and ideal choices for 51³Ô¹Ïs seeking their 'best-fit' college."

“The Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition” is just one of Princeton Review’s rankings publications throughout the year, and Gonzaga was previously noted as one of the country’s “” for its sustainability efforts, and Gonzaga’s on-campus MBA program through the School of Business Administration in July was named in the Princeton Review’s “.”

The 2026 results in “The Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition” are from surveys conducted during 2024-25, and information about the survey, ranking methodology, and basis for each category list can be found . Find Princeton Review’s “The Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition” at .

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