Student outcomes and service emerged as standout measures for Westminster College in Washington Monthly’s 2026 “Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars” rankings, released Aug. 31, with the College placing among the top third of Northeast institutions in both categories.

Among the 393 colleges in the Northeast region, Westminster ranked No. 128 for outcomes and No. 129 for service. Overall, the College ranked No. 183 in the region.

Westminster also ranked among Pennsylvania’s leading institutions. The College ranked No. 9 of 29 institutions in western Pennsylvania, No. 23 of 69 private institutions statewide and No. 31 of 105 public and private colleges and universities in the Commonwealth.

Nationally, Westminster ranked No. 681 among 1,504 four-year colleges and universities. The College ranked No. 398 nationally in both outcomes and service, placing it among the top 27% of institutions evaluated in each category.

Washington Monthly’s rankings take a different approach from traditional college rankings, evaluating institutions based on their contributions to students and the public good. The methodology measures four areas: access, affordability, outcomes and service.

Westminster’s strong outcomes ranking reflects the College’s emphasis on preparing students for success beyond graduation. Through its liberal arts foundation, experiential learning opportunities, internships, career preparation and hands-on learning, Westminster students gain the knowledge and skills to pursue their goals after college.

The College’s service ranking highlights Westminster’s longstanding commitment to developing students as engaged citizens. Service-learning opportunities, community partnerships, volunteer experiences and student organizations allow students to connect their education with the needs of their communities.

Washington Monthly has been releasing its annual College Guide and Rankings since 2005.

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