Kaitlyn Richards ‘29
Chief News Editor
On Sept. 22, 2026, the U.S. News & World Report released its 2027 list of the best liberal arts colleges in the nation. Holy Cross made history on the list of best liberal arts colleges in the country, ranking No. 22 – the highest in College history. Holy Cross remains the highest-ranked Catholic liberal arts college in the nation, tying with Colgate University and Colby College for the No. 22 spot. Holy Cross has steadily risen in the U.S. News rankings in recent years, moving from No. 27 in 2024 to No. 28 in 2025 and 2026 before reaching No. 22 this year. The announcement comes shortly after Holy Cross was ranked No. 45 out of all colleges in the nation by TIME magazine.
According to U.S. News & World Report: “National Liberal Arts Colleges emphasize four-year baccalaureate education and award at least half of their degrees in the arts and sciences. These disciplines include English, the biological and physical sciences, and the visual and performing arts, but generally exclude profession-focused fields such as business, education, and nursing. Additionally, these institutions often draw a significant share of their students nationally and internationally; military academies are included for that reason.”
In a statement to The Spire, President Vincent D. Rougeau stated that he is “proud to share this accomplishment with our community of world-class scholars, devoted staff members, and passionate students and alumni – and even prouder of how we got there.”
“We’ve embraced our distinctive Catholic, Jesuit identity and core mission, and we’ve advanced that mission. We’ve continued to focus on delivering academic excellence and a transformational student experience. We’ve built upon the high intellectual and ethical standards that have guided us since the College’s founding in 1843 – and recognition has followed.”
Yet, he continued by explaining that for Holy Cross, “a ranking is not how we measure ourselves. But it does tell us that others are seeing what this community has been building. At a time when many colleges are struggling to meet their enrollment goals, demand for a Holy Cross education is higher than it has ever been. In recent years, we’ve seen record numbers of applications and a higher percentage of accepted students choosing Holy Cross than ever before,” President Rougeau said. “We aspire to even greater heights in the future, securing Holy Cross’s place among the finest liberal arts colleges in the world.”
For Holy Cross, the enrollment numbers are at a historic high, with the Class of 2030 having 860 first-year students from 39 states and five countries. The acceptance rate has reached a low of 18%, and more students than ever are looking for a Holy Cross education every year.
For Kristion Thomas ‘29, “The recognition of being a top liberal arts school in the nation is highly reflective of my experience here at Holy Cross.” Thomas believes that “as a STEM major, I find the liberal arts curriculum highly rewarding, as I get to experience other disciplines, especially within the humanities, to meet requirements at the College.”
Ultimately, the recognition adds to the series of recent national rankings for Holy Cross, highlighting the College’s position among the nation’s liberal arts institutions.
Featured image courtesy of the College Gazette
Copy Edited by Claire Flynn ’29
Leave a Reply