Whitworth University Recognized Among Top Colleges & Universities by National Ranking Organizations
The university moved into the National Liberal Arts Colleges category of the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings this year, joining more than 200 liberal arts institutions nationwide. The reclassification from Best Regional Colleges (West) to the National Liberal Arts category places Whitworth alongside a broader group of nationally recognized liberal arts institutions and reflects the university's ability to deliver the academic quality, student outcomes and educational experience associated with leading national institutions, while maintaining the close-knit community and personalized attention of a smaller, private Christian university.
“This recognition elevates Whitworth onto a national platform,” says Josh Hibbard, vice president for enrollment management. “It reflects the extraordinary work of our faculty, the ambition of our students and the outcomes of our graduates. Whitworth is not just a regional success story. It’s now being recognized among the nation’s most distinguished liberal arts institutions.”
The 2027 edition of the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings evaluates more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities, using up to 17 factors to measure academic quality and graduate success.
In this year's U.S. News rankings, Whitworth was recognized in the top 30 percent of National Liberal Arts Colleges in the category of Social Mobility, a measure that evaluates institutions based on the success of graduates who received federal Pell Grants.
Recent rankings by Niche named Whitworth the No. 1 Christian college in the Pacific Northwest and No. 30 in the entire nation; No. 1 Safest College Campus in Washington; and No. 2 in the state in the categories of Best Colleges for Education, Best Small Colleges and Top Private Universities.
On the newly released Washington Monthly 2026 College Guide, Whitworth University ranks among the top 50 colleges (No. 42 nationally) in the Master’s University category. It also continues its streak as a top institution on the regional 2026 Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars: West list. Whitworth is also pleased to have made The Princeton Review® rankings as one of the Best Universities in the West.
“Our students are intensely curious,” Hibbard says. “They don’t sit back and wait for a diploma to start engaging with the world. They’re already out there asking questions, solving problems and making a difference. That drive takes them everywhere. Some continue their studies at places like Princeton, Harvard and Cambridge. Others build businesses, lead organizations and shape industries. And many dedicate themselves to community-based work that may never earn national attention but creates lasting change where it matters most. Whether on a global platform or in a single neighborhood, Whitworth graduates are making an impact. This recognition confirms the power of that education and the national caliber of what we do.”
About Whitworth University:
Since 1890, Whitworth University has provided an education worth seeking. Whitworth is a private, residential, Christ-centered liberal arts institution in Spokane, Wash. We carry out our mission to provide an education of mind and heart through rigorous intellectual inquiry guided by Christian scholars committed to excellent teaching and to the integration of faith and learning.
Recognized as one of the top colleges and universities in the West, Whitworth has an enrollment of about 2,500 students and offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Contacts:
Trisha Coder, associate director of media relations, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or tcoder@whitworth.edu.
