Wabash College is included in TIME Magazine’s inaugural ranking of America’s Best Colleges for 2026-27. Focusing on institutions that provide the best value for students, Wabash was the highest-ranked liberal arts college in Indiana and spotlighted among 500 public and private institutions nationally.
The TIME rankings place Wabash fifth in the state, alongside Notre Dame, Purdue, Rose-Hulman, and Indiana.
The ranking lists schools based on U.S. Department of Education data and categories tied to return on investment, primarily student outcomes, learning environment, and attractiveness to students.
“Rankings help families learn more about colleges and universities,” said Wabash President Scott Feller. “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 produce its rankings list, which used classic higher education assessment variables like instructional environment and institutional resources, while emphasizing what students gain from attending a particular institution compared with cost.
Student outcomes measure what a student gains from attending an institution, measured after graduation in three key components: graduate earnings, graduation rate, and financial payoff relative to cost. Learning environment assesses the educational setting through student-to-faculty ratio, expenditure per student, and a diversity measure that assesses the breadth of both the student body and faculty. Attractiveness measures the degree to which an institution is sought after by prospective students.
Inclusion in TIME’s college rankings continue another strong rankings season for the 194-year-old liberal arts institution. The Princeton Review named Wabash as one of its top 392 colleges for 2027 and ranked the College in 42% of its 50 ranking lists, including 11 top 10 citations. Further, Niche.com has rated Wabash as the top liberal arts college in Indiana for two years running.