Where Do Women’s Colleges Stand in This Year’s U.S. News & World Report Rankings?

The magazine U.S. News and World Report recently issued its annual rankings of the best colleges and universities in the United States. Several women’s colleges are included in the rankings of the top 50 best liberal arts colleges in the nation.

Wellesley College in Massachusetts was ranked fifth overall, behind only Williams College and Amherst College, both in Massachusetts, Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, and Pomona College in California. Wellesley College was ranked fifth last year and had tied for third in the rankings two years ago.

Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, was ranked 13th overall, up from 17th a year ago. Smith was tied with Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, which was once a women’s college. Barnard College in New York jumped from 22nd place in 2020 to 17th place last year. This year Barnard slipped one spot to 18th.

Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania was ranked in 31st position, followed closely in the 33rd spot by Scripps College in Claremont, California. Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts was ranked as the 36th best liberal arts college.