Three Michigan colleges are among the top-100 liberal arts colleges in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges rankings published on Tuesday, Sept. 23.
Hillsdale College was ranked No. 50 nationally, tying with Connecticut College, St. Olaf College in Minnesota, Wabash College in Indiana and Wheaton College in Illinois.
Hillsdale College also ranked No. 21 in lowest acceptance rates.
This year’s rankings were determined based on 17 academic metrics, including graduation rates, first-year retention rates, financial resources for students and peer assessment.
Five Michigan schools were also ranked among the top-200 universities in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best National Universities Rankings.
Liberal arts colleges focus on undergraduate education, whereas national universities emphasize undergraduate and graduate studies along with faculty research.
Kalamazoo College was ranked No. 67 overall, tying with Agnes Scott College in Georgia and Wofford College in South Carolina.
Kalamazoo College was also ranked highly in four categories:
No. 4 in study abroad
No. 34 in most innovative schools
No. 36 in best undergraduate teaching
No. 40 in top performers on social mobility
Hope College in Holland was ranked No. 84 nationally, tying with Austin College in Texas, Drew University in New Jersey, Saint Mary’s College in Indiana, Southwestern University in Texas, St. John’s College in Maryland, and Pennsylvania colleges Ursinus College and Washington & Jefferson College.
Hope College also earned high marks in several categories:
No. 22 in undergraduate research and creative projects
No. 28 in most innovative schools
No. 36 in best undergraduate teaching
No. 82 in best undergraduate engineering programs, at schools where doctorates are not offered
No. 92 in best value colleges
The top-2 spots on U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges list went to Massachusetts colleges Williams and Amherst, followed by the United States Naval Academy and Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.
Other Michigan schools on the National Liberal Arts Colleges list include:
Albion College at No. 131 (tie)
Aquinas College in Grand Rapids at No. 146 (tie)
Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit (unranked)
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