Allegheny College Receives Multiple Top 25 Rankings on 2026 U.S. News Best Colleges

Allegheny College, one of the nation's most historic and innovative four-year colleges, has been named one of the Top 25 of 2026 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings on key lists for First-Year Experiences, Undergraduate Teaching, and Top Performers in Social Mobility, and Senior Capstone, released today on usnews.com. The rankings are determined by nominations from college presidents, chief academic officers, deans of students and deans of admissions from more than 1,500 schools in the U.S.

The new edition features Allegheny College on several specialized lists, including Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects (#32) and Top Performers on Social Mobility (#19) which assesses schools' success at graduating students from low-income households, First-Year Experiences (#23) for select institutions with stellar examples of programs and strategies for making freshmen feel connected Senior Capstone (#12) separately, those offering experiential projects for students nearing the end of their college years to integrate and synthesize what they've learned.

We are proud that Allegheny College continues to have a strong presence on the U.S. News rankings that reviews the entire higher education sector, and we are particularly honored to be recognized by our peers in liberal arts for our unique offerings that meet the needs of our students and employer partners as we prepare graduates for meaningful lives and careers," Ron Cole, president of Allegheny College.

Allegheny College was rated #13 for most innovative in the liberal arts category, based on improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities.

The College continues to rank strongly due to its distinctive major/minor graduation requirement and its focus on the creation of new programs including Data Science, Healthcare Management, and Engineering Physics, a robust microcredential offering and the unique Allegheny Lab for Innovation and Creativity (ALIC). By engaging faculty and students with alumni and in partnerships with industry, nonprofits and the community, Allegheny College ensures its graduates stand out, as evidenced by the 98 percent placement rate of the 2024 class.

Since 1983, U.S. News has been providing education rankings to help parents and students find the ideal school to help them develop and embark on meaningful careers. In addition to making the Top 100 for National Liberal Arts College (76) and Best Value College (59) based on statistical data across all colleges and universities. The Most Innovative National Liberal Arts Colleges are determined from the recommendations of leading college officials in the liberal arts category.

About Allegheny College
Allegheny College, founded in 1815, is one of the nation's most historic and innovative four-year colleges. With the distinct requirement of completing a major and minor in different academic areas, students receive multidisciplinary learning that celebrates their unusual combinations of interests. This develops creative, independent thinkers with a path for educational depth and intellectual growth, preparing students for a successful launch after graduation and even for a future career that may not yet exist.

Located in northwestern Pennsylvania, 1.5 hours equidistant from Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Buffalo, Allegheny College is one of 40 colleges featured in Loren Pope's "Colleges That Change Lives" and recently ranked #4 by The Princeton Review in its Top 20 Best Private Schools for Making an Impact. In its 2025 rankings, U.S. News & World Report recognized Allegheny College as one of the country's top 100 national liberal arts colleges, with special distinctions including one of the top 10 best for senior capstone experience and one of the top 25 best for undergraduate teaching, and research and creative activities.