Wabash College has been included in TIME magazine’s inaugural ranking of America’s Best Colleges for 2026-27.
The ranking focuses on institutions that provide value for students. Wabash was the highest-ranked liberal arts college in Indiana and was included among 500 public and private institutions nationwide.
Wabash ranked fifth among Indiana institutions, joining the University of Notre Dame, Purdue University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Indiana University.
The rankings use U.S. Department of Education data and evaluate schools based on return on investment, including student outcomes, learning environment and attractiveness to prospective students.
“Rankings help families learn more about colleges and universities,” Wabash President Scott Feller said. “It’s really hard for students to make an informed decision, perhaps one of the most important in their lives, so these kinds of rankings help them navigate the process. But, of course, a campus visit is the ultimate way to learn more about Wabash and our unique culture.”
TIME partnered with Statista, a market and consumer data and rankings provider, to develop the list. The rankings considered traditional higher education measures, including instructional environment and institutional resources, while placing an emphasis on what students gain from attending an institution compared with the cost.
Student outcomes were measured through graduate earnings, graduation rates and the financial payoff relative to the cost of attendance. The learning environment category considered student-to-faculty ratios, spending per student and diversity among students and faculty. Attractiveness measured how sought after an institution is by prospective students.
The recognition continues a strong rankings season for the 194-year-old liberal arts college. The Princeton Review named Wabash among its top 392 colleges for 2027 and included the college in 42% of its 50 ranking lists, including 11 top 10 rankings.
Niche.com also has named Wabash the top liberal arts college in Indiana for two consecutive years.
