Stevens President Nariman Farvardin Once Again Named to NJBIZ Education Power 50

Stevens Institute of Technology President Nariman Farvardin ranked No. 10 in the NJBIZ Education Power 50, a list that profiles leaders of educational institutions who are responsible for managing organizations, making policies that directly affect the institutions or are themselves directly responsible for imparting knowledge to students, apprentices and the citizenry at large. This is the sixth consecutive year Farvardin has been featured on the list, recognizing the Stevens’ incredible growth and upward trajectory.

The longest-serving president among four-year institutions in New Jersey, Farvardin's exceptional leadership has elevated Stevens to new heights of academic excellence and global recognition, influencing higher education in New Jersey and beyond. Since he joined Stevens in 2011, he has led a remarkable university-wide transformation that has resulted in a dramatic ascent in rankings and stature, along with significant growth in enrollment, student academic profile and success, the research enterprise, campus infrastructure, alumni engagement and more.

Here’s a summary of Stevens’ accomplishments under Farvardin’s leadership:

• Overall enrollment is up 62%

• Graduate applications are up 382%

• Undergraduate applications are up 294%

• The median SAT score of enrolled undergraduates is up 160 points

• The institute-wide graduation rate is up from 73% in 2010 to 90% in 2023 (the national average is approximately 50%)

• The student loan default rate is less than one-twentieth the national average: 0.4% versus 10%+,

• Externally sponsored faculty research awards are up 199%

During his tenure, Farvardin initiated several transformational academic initiatives, including the SUCCESS core curriculum launching in fall 2024, designed to “future-proof” students’ education. He oversaw the creation of the College of Professional Education and the transformation of the School of Technology Management into an AACSB-accredited School of Business. New research centers established under his leadership include the Center for Research toward Advancing Financial Technologies (CRAFT), the New Jersey Fintech Accelerator at Stevens Institute of Technology (NJFAST), the Stevens Institute for Artificial Intelligence and the Center for Sustainability.

Year over year, the return on investment for a Stevens degree remains among the highest in the nation — most recently No. 18 on Payscale’s College ROI Report. The Class of 2023, 96.4% of which secured outcomes within six months of graduation, had a record average starting salary of $85,200. Reports from Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce also highlight the university's value and long-term ROI, placing Stevens at No. 19 in the nation for return on investment 40 years after enrollment. Stevens received 4.5 out of 5 stars on Money magazine’s ranking of Best Colleges in America and was ranked No. 12 for Best Career Placement by The Princeton Review. In addition, Stevens has maintained its place among the nation's best colleges and universities in recently released rankings by U.S. News and World Report and The Princeton Review.

Stevens’ success under Farvardin extends beyond the classroom and labs. For two years in a row, Stevens has been named a Certified™ Great Place to Work,® which provides the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Farvardin also received the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) 2023 Chief Executive HR Champion Award, which recognizes a president or chancellor of a higher education institution who has demonstrated significant support for their institution’s human resources function. For his exceptional leadership, Farvardin was also awarded the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor this year.

According to Glassdoor.com, which rates Stevens overall at a 4.5 out of 5, Farvardin has an extraordinary 94% approval rating.