Saint Mary’s College tops U.S. News regional private rankings in the West

Saint Mary’s College of California earned its highest U.S. News ranking yet, tying for No. 1 among private regional universities in the West and placing No. 3 overall in the 2027 list. The recognition also puts the Moraga school in the top 10 for value and for supporting veterans.

Why it matters: - Saint Mary’s College of California gained fresh third-party validation as one of the West’s strongest regional universities. - The rankings strengthen the school’s pitch to prospective students and families on value, academic quality and veteran support. - The College’s highest-ever U.S. News result adds momentum to its broader national visibility.

What happened: - U.S. News & World Report released the 2027 Best Colleges rankings on Sept. 22, 2026. - Saint Mary’s tied for No. 1 among Top Private Schools – Regional Universities (West). - Saint Mary’s tied for No. 3 among Regional Universities (West), which includes public and private schools. - Saint Mary’s ranked No. 8 in Best Value – Regional Universities (West). - Saint Mary’s ranked No. 10 in Best Colleges for Veterans – Regional Universities (West).

The details: - The four rankings are the College’s strongest showing to date in the annual U.S. News list. - The value ranking reflects Saint Mary’s focus on making a private education accessible to students and families. - The veterans ranking points to academic quality and support for veterans and active-duty service members. - Saint Mary’s roots in Lasallian Catholic tradition shape a model built on rigorous academics, close faculty mentorship, small classes, experiential learning and a residential community. - The College said those features create opportunities for students from a wide range of backgrounds.

Between the lines: - The ranking helps Saint Mary’s stand out in a crowded regional higher-education market where families weigh cost, outcomes and support services more closely than prestige alone. - President Roger J. Thompson framed the result as confirmation of the student experience rather than a marketing win. - Provost Carol Ann Gittens tied the school’s appeal to faculty-student relationships and a liberal arts education that prepares students for work after graduation. - The College is also building national visibility beyond U.S. News, with recent recognition from The Princeton Review, Forbes, TIME, Newsweek, Washington Monthly and Money.

What's next: - Saint Mary’s will use the new rankings in recruiting and messaging to prospective students, families and veterans. - The College says the full 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings are available at usnews.com/best-colleges. - Saint Mary’s is expected to keep leaning on its small-campus model and faculty mentorship as differentiators.

The bottom line: - Saint Mary’s College just got its strongest external endorsement yet, and it lands in the categories that matter most to enrollment: quality, value and support.