Kaitlyn Richards ‘29
Chief News Editor
The College of the Holy Cross has been ranked No. 45 in TIME Magazine’s 2026-2027 list of America’s Best Colleges, placing it among the top 50 academic institutions in the nation. Published on August 25, the ranking was created by TIME in partnership with Statista, which evaluated national institutions based on three primary areas: student outcomes, learning environment, and overall attractiveness to prospective students. The College received a final score of 83.48 on the index derived from the average of the three categories.
The ranking criteria also reflect several areas central to the College’s academic mission. Student outcomes consider the long-term results of a college education, while the learning environment examines the academic experience of the students. The overall attractiveness category considers factors that influence prospective students’ decisions about where to attend college. Combined, these factors provide a broad measure of the college beyond the traditional academic standing.
The 2026-2027 ranking comes as students and families increasingly consider career preparation, the student experience, and the value of the educational experience when choosing where to attend college. According to TIME, the search for a high Return on Investment (ROI) has led many college students to pursue fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). TIME cited a 2026 report from the National Science Foundation, which found that the STEM workforce grew by over 26% between 2013 and 2023, which significantly contrasts with the 9% growth in humanities-related workforces. These percentages are expected to increase even faster over the next decade, with value put on STEM expected to surge at an all time high.
At Holy Cross, the recognition reflects the College’s approach to fostering a strong learning environment by educating students both inside and outside the classroom.
For President Vincent D. Rougeau, “being recognized by TIME among the top 50 colleges in the country is a meaningful affirmation of what we strive to do at Holy Cross every day.” He explained that “the fact that this recognition reflects student outcomes, the learning environment, and the overall student experience is especially gratifying.”
Rougeau continued by stating that the recognition by TIME truly “speaks to the strength of our Jesuit liberal arts education, which challenges students to grow intellectually and personally, discern their purpose and use their education in service to others.”
Similarly, for students, the recognition is especially important as it provides an opportunity to reflect on their choice of colleges compared with their lived experiences at Holy Cross. While the ranking offers one measure of a college’s academic environment, current students experience those aspects of the College firsthand on a daily basis.
“To me, the TIME ranking is extremely special as it means being able to pursue academic greatness and live up to my intellectual potential,” through the programs implemented by the College, said Julia Mikolajczak ‘29. For students like Mikolajczak, the recognition reflects not only the college’s upward standing and academic prestige, but also the opportunities the College makes available for all students to prepare for their future and develop their interests through the liberal arts curriculum.
Ultimately, the TIME ranking truly marks an upward trend within the College’s programs and its broader institutional momentum. The increase in national recognition for the College in recent years reflects Holy Cross’s expansion of programs such as experiential learning opportunities, alumni networking initiatives, and investment in academic spaces that support collaborative, interdisciplinary work. These efforts, combined with the College’s continued commitment to the Jesuit tradition, have shaped an environment where students feel both challenged and supported as they pursue their academic and professional goals.
Image Courtesy of the College of the Holy Cross
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