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Rock-Solid Reputation

Slippery Rock University stands proudly among the nation’s top institutions, earning recognition that reflects its unwavering commitment to excellence and student success.
Here are just a few of the designations and rankings that the University has recently earned:
#20 Top Public Schools (North)
– U.S. News & World Report

#55 in Regional Universities (North)
– U.S. News & World Report

“Best Bang for the Buck”
– Washington Monthly

Top 12% Best Master’s Universities
– Washington Monthly

Top 22% Best Colleges
– Washington Monthly

“Best Mid-Atlantic”
– The Princeton Review

“America’s Best Colleges”
– Wall Street Journal

“Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Medium”
– designation by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

“Best for Families”
– Pittsburgh Parent magazine

#41 Best College Dorms in America
– Niche.com

Record-Breaking Success

SRU is a first-choice destination for students, as indicated by enrollment data for the Fall 2025 semester.
8,625
Total Enrollment
+2.75%
Increase Since Last Fall
An SRU Record!
SRU’s largest single-year increase since 2016.
1,549
First-Year Undergraduates
outside view of a building from SRU
Largest such cohort at SRU since 2019.
86.4%
Retention Rate
vector graphic of a figure wearing an SRU sweatshirt jumping for joy
Percentage of first-year students from last fall who returned this year, which is the University’s highest on record.

(Rate as of Sept. 18, 2025.)

57%
Four-Year Graduation Rate
vector graphic of a black graduation cap with yellow stars
Highest rate in the last five years.
Group of three young professionals wearing graduation academic regalia, featuring black gowns and pink hoods, posing for a portrait.
National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (CAE-CD) logo, alongside the NSA and DoD emblems, set against a university building background.

Leader in Cybersecurity

SRU is at the forefront of preparing professionals to enter the highly skilled cybersecurity workforce. The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, a program housed in the National Security Agency, has awarded SRU its NCAE-C Cyber Defense designation, CAE-CD, for its Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity degree program. Since the cybersecurity program was launched in 2019, it has undergone continuous evaluation and this designation by a government agency validates its success and growth.

Opportunities for Teachers

Thanks to a transformative $600,000 state grant, SRU has spearheaded a first-of-its-kind teacher apprenticeship program to address the state’s critical teacher shortage. SRU’s new two-year apprenticeship program will pave the way for professionals working at five local school districts (Butler, Grove City, Slippery Rock, Hampton and Franklin Regional) with personal support and $15,000 in tuition to help them earn full teacher certification and a master’s degree.

Tailored for individuals with bachelor’s degrees who are working as long-term substitutes, emergency-certified teachers or paraprofessionals, the program provides a fast-track to success in hard-to-fill positions that require certifications in grades 7-12 science, grades 7-12 mathematics, and kindergarten to grade 12 special education.

Four Slippery Rock University College of Education graduates in caps and gowns, celebrating commencement next to the school banner.
Man and woman in Slippery Rock 'The Rock' branded shirts cutting a green ribbon, marking the grand opening of a new campus addition.
Aerial view of a brightly lit college soccer or turf field at night, showing the entire complex under tall stadium lights.

Turf Get Going

Intramural and club sports at SRU now have access to Campus Recreation’s newest facility feature: the McFarland Recreational Sports Complex now includes an outdoor, multi-sport turf field. The intramural soccer and football fields at The Mac were recently converted from grass to artificial turf to allow for greater use for more sports and groups, as well as rentals to leagues and organizations in the community. The Slippery Rock Student Government Association, which funded $2.5 million for the project, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 30 at the fields.
(Pictured above, SRSGA executive board members Jaeda Johnston and Connor Pavlicko.)
Keynote speaker addressing a large audience during a university event, with banners for the College of Business and Education visible.

Health Care Collaborators

SRU is shaping the future of health care in the region by educating the next generation of professionals and building strong partnerships with local hospitals. Through advisory boards within its five academic departments, the College of Health Professions collaborates with leaders from regional health care providers to ensure that SRU stays at the forefront of health care education.

These partnerships give students hands-on experience through internships, mentorship and real-world training, often leading to job offers after graduation. Many SRU alumni are now working at partner hospitals, proving the success of these connections and the University’s commitment to workforce readiness.

SRU celebrated this collaboration when Christopher Clark (pictured left), president and CEO of Allegheny Health Network Saint Vincent, Grove City and Westfield Memorial Hospitals, served as a commencement speaker last spring. His presence highlighted the University’s role in preparing skilled, confident health care professionals ready to serve their communities.

See “Prepared to Care” for more about these collaborations, including a success story about an ’25 SRU alumnus working in the field.
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