Muhlenberg College has been ranked No. 163 nationally and No. 49 in the northeast region on Washington Monthly’s 2026 Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars list. The college performed especially well in the publication’s “outcomes” category, demonstrating Muhlenberg’s exceptionally high return on investment
Washington Monthly ranks schools based on their contribution to the public good in the categories of access, affordability, outcomes, and promoting public service. Because the rankings weigh each of the four categories equally, top colleges on the list display excellence across the full breadth of measures.
About the Categories
- Access ranks colleges by how well they provide access to non-wealthy students.
- Affordability ranks colleges by their affordability and graduate debt.
- Outcomes ranks colleges by the academic and financial outcomes they provide to students, delving into graduation rates, early career income, and the number of graduates who go on to earn doctorates.
- Service tracks the number of students who enroll in service-oriented majors, commitment to encouraging voting participation, and the number of graduates who enter AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps.
Muhlenberg’s impressive outcomes statistics include an 82% graduation rate, which far exceeds the national average of 58% for four-year colleges. More than 95% of Class of 2025 survey respondents began a career or advanced study within six months of graduation. And the college’s medical, dental, and law school placement rates are all above 90%. Muhlenberg graduates are consistently placed in Fortune 500 companies and top-ranked grad schools around the country. And its alumni lead and serve at some of the most compelling public, private, and nonprofit organizations across the globe.
