Endicott College has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Best Colleges for Women 2026, earning a place in the 201–300 tier nationwide in the publication’s inaugural ranking developed in partnership with Gender Fair. The ranking evaluates how colleges support women through leadership representation, pay and workplace policies, campus safety, and access to opportunity.
The ranking includes colleges from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and only evaluates institutions that meet specific criteria, including employing 20 or more women in academic roles and enrolling at least 1,000 students.
Endicott received an overall score in the 62.9–66.5 range, with particularly strong performance in two key areas: leadership and safety. The College earned a leadership score of 82, reflecting the presence and visibility of women in institutional leadership roles, and a safety score of 97, underscoring Endicott’s commitment to creating a campus environment where all feel secure and supported.
Endicott began as an all-women’s college in 1939, with a philosophy centered around helping women achieve vocational and educational independence in the absence of their spouses, who were sent overseas to fight during World War II. In 1993, Endicott transitioned to a co-educational model, but the College never abandoned its roots in empowering women through a strong education and experiential learning opportunities, such as internships, that prepare them for a successful career.
Endicott continues to translate its commitment to women’s leadership into meaningful, visible opportunities for students. In fall 2025, the College launched She Builds: Bridging Science, Design, and Leadership, a public conference designed to spotlight women across science, technology, and design disciplines while creating space for mentorship, storytelling, and professional connection. Initiatives such as She Builds reflect Endicott’s ongoing efforts to build pipelines for women so they can see themselves as leaders, innovators, and change-makers on campus and beyond.
“Having worked at Endicott for many years, I’ve witnessed the intentional evolution of a campus culture that prioritizes both representation and meaningful support. As a woman in senior leadership, this recognition is especially meaningful; it affirms our commitment to empowering women as scholars, leaders, and change-makers,” said Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Brandi Johnson.
“Our strong scores in leadership and safety reflect the sustained, strategic investment and the community-wide commitment to ensuring opportunity and security are not aspirational, but foundational, so that women feel seen, safe, and grounded in a deep sense of belonging as they shape the future.”
The Newsweek/Gender Fair ranking is rooted in the Women’s Empowerment Principles and draws on publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education, including IPEDS and campus safety reporting. Colleges are evaluated across four weighted categories—Leadership (35%), Pay & Policies (25%), Safety (20%), and Opportunity (20%)—to assess the structural conditions that support women’s education and career outcomes.
The full rankings and methodology are published by Newsweek in collaboration with Gender Fair as part of its new “America’s Best Colleges for Women” series.