All five undergraduate Claremont Colleges earned national recognition in recently released collegiate rankings, each placing among the nation’s top 50 small colleges in Forbes’ 2025–26 list and performing strongly in the 2025–26 U.S. News & World Report Liberal Arts College rankings. Both sets of evaluations assess academic institutions on factors such as strongly constructed academic curricula, close-knit communities and postgraduate outcomes.
Across research on higher education, evidence suggests college rankings have a measurable impact on applicant behavior and institutional policies. A study from The Rockefeller Institute of Government has found that a one-spot improvement in rankings can correlate with roughly a one percent uptick in applications.
However, a 2023 review by NORC at the University of Chicago underscored the limits of rankings and cautioned against interpreting them too literally. The report found that year-to-year fluctuations often stem from changes in methodology, such as shifting the weight placed on graduation rates, faculty resources or alumni earnings, rather than sudden changes in institutional quality.
For the Claremont Colleges, continued inclusion in the top tiers reinforces their profile among the nation’s leading liberal arts institutions.
Claremont McKenna College earned the No. 5 position on Forbes’ list and shares seventh place with Pomona College in the U.S. News & World Report rankings. Pomona College also placed seventh on the Forbes list.
Pomona noted that national visibility, bolstered by rankings, continues to shape their ability to attract applicants worldwide. Receiving the highest number of applications in its history, Pomona enrolled a class with 24 percent first-generation students and 55 percent domestic students of color, representing 41 states and 26 countries.
President Gabrielle Starr emphasized that while rankings carry weight in the admissions process, they represent only part of the institution’s mission.
“Rankings matter as they are often the first point of reference for prospective students and their families and advisors,” Starr said in a statement shared in email correspondence with TSL. “However, the decision to seek out and to join a community of scholars such as Pomona is the end result of a deeper inquiry. We remain fortunate in our ability to attract some of the most promising minds from around the world, regardless of need, to this community. This is, indeed, a special place.”
Harvey Mudd College placed thirteenth on Forbes’ list and secured the 10th spot in the U.S. News ranking. Scripps College was recognized at No. 36 on Forbes’ list and No. 37 in the U.S. News & World Report’s national liberal arts standings, while Pitzer College was listed at No. 39 on Forbes’ list and No. 37 in the U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Scripps President Amy Marcus-Newhall told TSL that the rankings provide an opportunity to recognize recent progress while also underscoring the limits of such measures.
“Every member of the Scripps community can take pride in this recognition,” Marcus-Newhall told TSL over email correspondence.
“While I believe that rankings don’t capture all that makes Scripps College an exceptional institution, I’m proud of the improvement in our social mobility and best value rankings; these reflect the generosity of our supporters who are helping Scripps provide its transformative education for more students regardless of their financial need,” she said.
“While I believe that rankings don’t capture all that makes Scripps College an exceptional institution, I’m proud of the improvement in our social mobility and best value rankings; these reflect the generosity of our supporters who are helping Scripps provide its transformative education for more students regardless of their financial need”
Marcus-Newhall also noted that the ranking reflects the dedication of faculty and staff who shape both academic and residential life, emphasizing that Scripps’ true strength lies in the generosity of spirit shown by its students, mentors, staff and alumni.
In addition, Pitzer President Strom C. Thacker highlighted that the recognition reflects more than numerical placement.
“Pitzer’s strong showing in various rankings this year is an affirmation of our mission to connect liberal arts excellence with meaningful student outcomes,” Thacker said in a statement published on Pitzer College’s website.
Thacker noted that the rankings demonstrate the work of both faculty and students and underscore Pitzer’s efforts to foster a community that values bold thinking and social innovation.
The 2025–2026 rankings reaffirm the Claremont Colleges’ position within the top tier of American liberal arts institutions. With strong showings across both Forbes and U.S. News & World Report, the consortium’s five campuses continue to draw national attention for academic quality, student outcomes and the distinct model of undergraduate education that defines the 5Cs.
Harvey Mudd College and Claremont McKenna College did not respond to requests for comment at the time of publication.
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