Macalester College has again been ranked one of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges, earning high marks from publications like Washington Monthly, which ranked the college #4 among liberal arts institutions, and U.S. News & World Report, which placed Macalester at #10 for undergraduate teaching. The college earned top rankings and accolades across a wide range of categories in 2025, ranging from affordability and academic excellence to innovation and public service.
In addition to ranking #4 among liberal arts colleges in Washington Monthly’s 2025 rankings, which emphasize how colleges contribute to the public good, Macalester earned a #2 ranking for service, which is evaluated on how well an institution prepares students for public service. Macalester also made the publication’s top 20 list for academic and financial outcomes, an accolade directly linked to the college’s graduation rate and early-career alumni income.
Recognized as one of the best liberal arts colleges (#28) by U.S. News & World Report, Macalester also rose to the #10 spot for undergraduate teaching and #11 for most innovative schools. Other top rankings published by USNWR for the 2025-2026 year include #17 for study abroad and #31 for best value.
“We are proud to see Macalester celebrated in the rankings for what defines us: a distinctive liberal arts education that prepares our students for lives of purpose,” President Suzanne M. Rivera said. “It’s especially meaningful to see these recognitions affirm not only the strength of our academic programs but also the relevance of our mission to create a more just and peaceful world.”
Students and alumni are also giving Macalester top marks. Niche, a college search tool, which bases its rankings on student and alumni surveys, awarded Macalester an overall grade of A, including an A+ for academics and A’s for diversity and location. The platform also ranked the college #7 on its list of Best Colleges Without an Application Fee in America, and #24 among the Best Liberal Arts Colleges in America.
Princeton Review, which ranks the top 25 colleges in 50 categories based on student surveys, placed Macalester #11 on its list of Top 20 Schools for Making an Impact (Private Schools) and #49 on its Top 50 Green Colleges list.
Learn more about Macalester College at macalester.edu.
September 23 2025
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