U.S. News and World Report today released its 2011 edition of America's Best Colleges. Claremont McKenna College is ranked 11th overall among the nation's 266 liberal arts colleges surveyed for the fourth consecutive year. Within the rankings, CMC is fourth in Admission Selectivity; 11th in Graduation and Retention; 14th in Financial Resources; and 35th in Alumni Giving. CMC's acceptance rate was noted as one of the lowest at 16%, tied with Amherst and Pomona Colleges, according to the report.
"Claremont McKenna College is consistently recognized for its excellence in educating future leaders," said Harry McMahon, CMC's Chairman of the Board of Trustees. "The College's investment in faculty, academic enhancements, student resources, and alumni outreach allows us to maintain our standing as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the U.S."
Among liberal arts colleges, U.S. News also ranked CMC ninth in its "Great Schools, Great Prices" list and fourth on its "Least Debt" list for the Class of 2009. For the first time, U.S. News ranked national universities and liberal arts colleges based on high school guidance counselors' opinions. CMC was ranked 14th.
Within the undergraduate schools at The Claremont Colleges, Pomona College ranked sixth; Harvey Mudd College ranked 18th; Scripps College ranked 23rd; and Pitzer College ranked 46th.
U.S. News & World Report measures peer perceptions, student selectivity attributes, graduation rate performance, and alumni giving among other areas. This ranking, along with others conducted throughout the year, is but one indicator of a college's quality and impact. More about the U.S. News & World Report rankings and methodologies can be found at www.usnews.com. Each survey that ranks colleges measures different variables and uses different methodologies. The results of this survey, along with others conducted throughout the year, contribute to our understanding of several outcome measures related to CMC, and how CMC is perceived by students, alumni, recruiters, peers, and others. Individual rankings should be interpreted as but one indicator, among many, of a college's quality and impact.
The results of these rankings will be published in the September 2010 issue of U.S. News & World Report, available for newsstand purchase Tuesday, August 31. The 2011 America's Best Colleges guidebook will be available on Tuesday, August 24.