With its combination of quality education, size and affordability gaining more attention, Albion College ranked 38th nationally among small colleges—and No. 1 in Michigan—in Money’s Best Colleges for 2020, an in-depth report and listing published this week.

Highlighting schools for “students looking for a more intimate academic experience,” Albion’s recognition as a leading U.S. liberal arts college extended to other facets of the ranking as well: Money placed Albion at the top quartile among 112 colleges and universities located in the Great Lakes states (Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin) and similarly among the top quartile among 739 institutions nationwide.

Albion College President Mathew Johnson saw the ranking as a testament to the College’s long-established and continuing commitment to a quality liberal arts education.

“Albion College has always been and will continue to be a national leader in liberal arts education,” Dr. Johnson said. “Our commitment to a purpose-driven education engages students in the most pressing questions of our time, where they ply the power of critical thinking that comes from the liberal arts. As we welcome one of our largest and most diverse incoming classes in more than a decade, this recognition builds on our commitment to remain a national leader through innovation, diversity, inclusion and action.”

Money based its annual college ranking on the quality of each school’s education (including six-year graduation rates, instructor quality and peer quality); affordability (including net price of a degree, debt and the ability to repay debt); and outcomes (which includes earnings by graduates over the years of their careers). In all, Money looked at more than 20,000 data points in building its list of colleges “ranked by value.”

“We are extremely proud of our recognition as the No. 1 private college in Michigan by Money’s Best Colleges ranking,” said Dr. Hernan Bucheli, vice president for enrollment management. “This acknowledgment clearly underscores the distinctiveness of Albion College as a top liberal arts college committed to academic excellence, inclusive excellence and critical learning in and out of the classroom. This recognition is also indicative of the increased interest Albion College has received relative to our enrollment growth over the last decade.”

Read Albion’s profile in the Money Best Colleges 2020 ranking