This story was updated to reflect a correction issued by the Wall Street Journal.

Albion College obtained the highest ranking of liberal-arts schools in Michigan and second in the Midwest on the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. ranking.

Albion was ranked 54 among all colleges nationwide. Augustana College was the top liberal-arts college in the Midwest. DePauw University and Kalamazoo College followed Albion in the liberal-arts schools in the Midwest category.

“These rankings affirm Albion College’s distinctive approach to higher education—a focus on experiential learning, personalized mentorship, and a commitment to social mobility,” Albion College President Wayne Webster said. “At Albion, we empower students to achieve both academic excellence and real-world success on our campus and beyond, equipping them with the skills and experiences that make a transformative impact.”

The rankings measure how well each college sets graduates up for financial success.

“We look at how much a school improves students’ chances of graduating and their future earnings, balancing these outcomes with feedback from students on college life,” the report accompanying the rankings stated. “We don’t measure reputation, nor the college’s own finances.”

Also read: Albion College named to Princeton Review’s Best Colleges List

Albion, DePauw University and Kalamazoo College also were among the region’s top 10 small schools ranking of top colleges in the Midwest by size. Albion also is fifth among private schools in WSJ/College Pulse ranking of the top public and private colleges in the Midwest.