St. Olaf recognized for study abroad, innovation, and value by U.S. News & World Report
The most recent ranking from U.S. News & World Report names St. Olaf College within the top 50 national liberal arts colleges among public and private schools.
The 2027 Best Colleges rankings list additionally includes St. Olaf within the top 50 for four categories:
- No. 11: Best Value – National Liberal Arts Colleges
- No. 25: Most Innovative – National Liberal Arts Colleges
- No. 30: Study Abroad
- No. 46: Undergraduate Teaching – National Liberal Arts Colleges
St. Olaf also received recognition from U.S. News for its dedication ensuring first-year students have enriching experiences on campus. First-year students at St. Olaf focus on finding connections and their community with faculty, staff, and their peers. Through their St. Olaf Orientation to Academics and Resources (SOAR) group, students are matched with a team of advisors across all aspects of campus life, including academics, a Success Coach, and a SOAR peer leader.
“At St. Olaf, students thrive through finding their community on campus and having intentional academic, career, and well-being support from our dedicated faculty and staff,” says President Susan Rundell Singer. “The recognition from U.S. News acknowledges our dedication to academic excellence, career preparation, and civic engagement for our students to live meaningfully on and off campus.”
“The recognition from U.S. News acknowledges our dedication to academic excellence, career preparation, and civic engagement.”
— President Susan Rundell Singer
For the second year in a row, the college was recognized by the national ranking for the strength of its economics and psychology programs, and being a top performer in enrolling and graduating students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. U.S News has also featured St. Olaf as one of the 30 most beautiful colleges in the United States.
“Higher education is an investment in a student’s future, and we’re proud to recognize the institutions that continue to raise the bar for academic excellence,” says LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News. “The Best Colleges rankings celebrate schools that demonstrate outstanding commitment to student success, providing prospective families with a roadmap to discover high-performing institutions that align with their specific academic, career and personal goals.”
U.S. News publishes the Best Colleges rankings each year to provide prospective students and their families with the comparative merits of the undergraduate programs at America’s colleges and universities. The rankings, which date back to 1983, offer detailed information of the institutions and data on factors such as graduation rates and post-graduate earnings.
Earlier this year, St. Olaf was ranked in the Top 10 for Best Classroom Experience (No. 8) and Great Financial Aid (No. 9) in the prestigious Princeton Review. St. Olaf was also named in “America’s Best Colleges” by TIME Magazine and in “Best College” by Money Magazine; the latter highlighted the high percentage of students, 9-out-of-10, who participate in career building opportunities and the college’s commitment to student success.