HWS News
22 September 2026 HWS Climbs 13 Spots in U.S. News Rankings
New ranking places HWS at No. 60 among national liberal arts colleges and No. 55 on the Best Values Schools list, reflecting a period of significant momentum across the institution.
Hobart and William Smith has climbed 13 spots in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings, rising to No. 60 among national liberal arts colleges.
HWS also ranks No. 55 on their Best Value Schools list and No. 57 among private colleges nationwide.
The 13-spot jump among liberal arts colleges marks a period of growth and investment across the institution, from record interest among prospective students to new academic opportunities, major investments in facilities and strong support from alumni, families and friends.
The U.S. News rankings evaluate institutions using a range of measures related to academic quality and student success. The methodology considers factors including graduation and retention rates, graduation-rate performance, peer assessments, financial resources, student-faculty ratios, borrower debt and the outcomes of students.
A significant factor in the methodology is U.S. News’ "Earnings by Major" score, which is an evaluation of the typical earnings by employed graduates by field of study, and sourced from the College Scorecard. HWS scored 19th among all colleges and universities in the nation. According to Payscale.com, HWS alumni earn a median mid-career salary of $141,800.
This fall, HWS welcomed the Class of 2030 following the largest applicant pool in institutional history. First-year enrollment increased by more than 20%, bringing total enrollment to more than 2,000 students.
At the same time, “Further Together: the Campaign for our Third Century” has raised more than $360 million toward a $400 million goal, advancing priorities including financial aid, academic programs, facilities and student experience.
Among the Campaign’s transformative investments is the Fish Center for the Sciences, a 40,000-square-foot facility now under construction on the Quad scheduled to open in fall 2027. The Fish Center will create a state-of-the-art space for teaching, research and collaboration.
The Melly Institute for Business, Innovation and Leadership is also expanding opportunities for students by connecting the liberal arts and sciences with experiences and skills that will help them propel their careers. The Melly Institute was established through an historic $70 million gift from Trustee Chair Emeritus L. Thomas Melly ’52, L.H.D. ’02 and Judith Hershey Melly L.H.D. ’16.
Momentum is also building across campus life, with expanding opportunities for students to lead, serve, pursue internships and engage with the Geneva community. HWS’ 31 varsity teams build on a tradition of 26 national championships and a strong culture of athletic achievement. The Wall Street Journal ranks HWS No. 8 in the nation for student experience, reflecting the robust opportunities available to students. The Princeton Review ranks HWS No. 4 for Most Engaged Community Service, No. 7 for Most Accessible Professors, #10 for Happiest Students, #10 for Most Active Student Government, and #10 for Town-Gown Relations are Great.
Read more about the ranking and U.S. News & World Report methodology here.
