Washington Monthly ranking up 40 spots from two years ago and 26 spots from last year.

Albion College’s commitment to public purpose has been recognized in the 2020 rankings published this week by Washington Monthly. Among liberal arts colleges, the magazine places Albion at No. 2 in Michigan, No. 24 in the Midwest and among the top liberal arts colleges nationally.

Washington Monthly is in its 15th year of ranking colleges and universities with a methodology based on a school’s contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research and providing opportunities for public service. The recognition from the publication is an acknowledgement of Albion’s purpose-driven faculty, staff and alumni, which together create a special setting for students that is connected to public purpose, where exploration into big questions on big issues such as climate change, structural inequality and public health are infused in all facets of campus life.

“This news affirms Albion’s commitment to public purpose as an organizing principle in our strategic transformation,” said Dr. Mathew Johnson, who officially became the College’s 17th president in July. “Albion alumni work for the public good every day, and each day our students build on and capitalize on their Albion education to improve their local, regional and national communities.”

Washington Monthly also presents a “Best Bang for the Buck” list, which provides a look at how non-wealthy students obtain marketable degrees at affordable prices. In this category, Albion ranks in the top quintile in the Midwest out of more than 370 institutions.

The Washington Monthly recognition follows a strong ranking from Money, which listed Albion as the top small college in Michigan and No. 38 in the U.S. Additionally, the Princeton Review included Albion among its Best 386 Colleges, and the College once again was featured in The Fiske Guide to Colleges.