These 12 Mass. liberal arts schools are the best in the country, US News says

Out of all the liberal arts schools in the country, Williams College in Massachusetts took first place, according to the 2026 U.S. News and World Report national liberal arts rankings .

Following close behind is Amherst College, taking second place.

In all, the Massachusetts colleges on the list were:

• Williams College #1

• Amherst College #2

• Wellesley College #7

• Smith College #13

• College of the Holy Cross #27

• Mount Holyoke College #29

• Wheaton College #76

• Stonehill College #82

• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts #115

• Emmanuel College #135

• Gordon College #156

• Hampshire College #156

The best college rankings from U.S. News and World Report have been released for more than four decades, according to its website. It evaluates more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities as part of all of its rankings.

The rankings are based on criteria like graduation rates and performance, retention rates, full-time faculty, among other factors, according to its website.

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