Middlebury College slips to 19th place in U.S. News ranking

Middlebury College dropped five spots to rank 19th in the national liberal arts colleges rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, marking one of its lowest positions since 1988.

Decline in Rankings and Categories

While Middlebury College dropped five spots in the overall ranking to 19th place, it managed to maintain its top positions in several individual categories.

The institution ranked second in the study abroad category and eleventh in the area of interdisciplinary writing.

Statements from Administration

Following the publication of the report, President Ian Baucom stated that the school's focus is on long-term goals rather than its position on any list.

Baucom emphasized that they will not deviate from their core mission and long-term strategies.

Evaluations by Faculty

Robert Cohen, a professor of English and creative writing, expressed that all kinds of rankings are meaningless.

On the other hand, Chris Keathley, a professor of media and film culture, pointed out that rankings have a real impact on public perception.

Student Opinions and Other Evaluations

Students noted that the ranking could influence application preferences while also questioning the validity of the metrics.

Meanwhile, the school secured higher positions in evaluations by Princeton Review, Niche, and Forbes.