U.S. News and World Report Names Saint Mary’s College Sixth Among Best Regional Universities

Saint Mary’s is honored to announce its number sixth-ranked position by U.S. News and World Report in the Best Regional Universities-West category for 2021. This accolade is solid validation that the College continues to be acknowledged as a leading institution of higher education­: delivering commanding results and transforming the lives of our students. The distinctions that are lauded upon Saint Mary’s are for excellence in several qualitative and quantitative categories, including: academics, faculty, affordability, financial aid, campus life, graduation rates, career outcomes, and more.

"We are extremely proud of our recognition as one of the top six Best Regional Universities in the West by U.S. News and World Report," said President James Donahue. "This acknowledgment of academic excellence clearly underscores the distinctiveness of Saint Mary's as an outstanding comprehensive university, rooted in a Lasallian Catholic mission and liberal arts tradition that educates our students to lead meaningful and rewarding personal and professional lives.”

The magazine also ranked Saint Mary’s number four in the West for Best Regional College for Veterans. Each year, the College consistently earns high rankings, sharing notable positions among many of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the nation.

U.S. News and World Report groups colleges based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, the most widely accepted classification system in United States. Carnegie categories are the accepted standard in U.S. higher education and has been used by U.S. News and World Report since the first Best Colleges rankings was published in 1983.

The magazine’s Best Regional Universities West rankings feature distinctive higher education institutions that offer a full range of undergraduate programs and some master's programs and doctoral programs.