St. Mary’s College of Maryland is ranked as the nation’s sixth best public liberal arts college in U.S. News & World Report’s “2017 Best Colleges” released online Tuesday, Sept. 13. St. Mary’s College also ranks 99 on the national liberal arts colleges list, public and private, and 10 in best colleges for veterans.
“As one of only two public liberal arts honors colleges in the country, St. Mary’s College of Maryland sets the standard for a liberal arts education,” said Dr. Tuajuanda C. Jordan, president of St. Mary’s College. “Our rigorous academic programs, engaging College community, and approachable and accomplished faculty are among the reasons academically motivated students make St. Mary’s College their college of choice.”
National liberal arts colleges ranked by U.S. News & World Report emphasize undergraduate education. To be included in this category, colleges must award at least 50 percent of their degrees in liberal arts disciplines. Along with St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the top eight include the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, Virginia Military Institute, New College of Florida, University of Minnesota – Morris, and University of North Carolina – Asheville.
The Princeton Review also recognized St. Mary’s College in the 2016 edition of its annual college guide, “The Best 380 Colleges.” St. Mary’s College is ranked fourth for the “most beautiful campus” and fifth for the “happiest students.” Recently, St. Mary’s College was named as the Second College of Lowest Student Loan Debt at Graduation in Maryland from Lend.edu, and named to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance’s list of the Top Best College Values of 2016. The College ranked among the top 100 on the list of best values in public colleges for both in-state and out-of-state value, and is ranked among the top 100 public colleges and universities in the country—and second out of 12 Maryland institutions— according to a statistical analysis by The Business Journals.