Marietta College in the Rankings
Many publications and websites release annual college rankings each summer. Each one uses a variety of methodologies and criteria in an attempt to quantify a set of different factors into a ranking that compares colleges and universities to one another.
While Marietta College recognizes these independent evaluations are a useful tool for prospective students and families, it doesn’t make strategic decisions involving academics or co-curricular programs with improving its placement in any rankings. In fact, the rankings reveal that Marietta provides a quality, contemporary liberal arts education at an affordable price.
Here is a guide to where Marietta College places this year.
U.S. News & World Report
Marietta is ranked 17th in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Midwestern Regional Colleges. Marietta has been ranked in the Top 20 every year since the rankings started in 1985. Marietta is also ranked the No. 24 Best Value School in the region and 63 Top Perfomer on Social Mobility.
Read our story
Methodology for U.S. News rankings
Brookings Institution-Common Sense
Brookings Institution Fellow Jonathan Rothwell was asked by the New York Times in the Fall of 2015 to rank colleges by their highest value added, regardless of major. Marietta College came in at an impressive No. 7 in the entire nation.
Wall Street Journal/College Pulse
Nationally, Marietta is ranked 289th out of more than 1,700 colleges and universities that were eligible for consideration in the 2025 WSJ/College Pulse rankings. In Ohio, Marietta is ranked 4th in Student Experience, Best Salaries, and Social Mobility — outpacing every public institution in the state. Marietta is also ranked 5th in the state for Best Value.
Forbes Magazine
Marietta is ranked 536th in the 2019 Forbes’ ranking of the 650 best colleges and universities in the nation. Marietta also ranks 21st among all Ohio four-year schools.
Read our story
Methodology for Forbes rankings
College Factual
Marietta is also ranked 856th out of 2,241 Best Nationwide Colleges and has a ranking of 30th in Ohio.
Learn More about Marietta's rankings
Methodology for College Factual rankings
Princeton Review
The nationally known education services company recognized Marietta as one of 158 institutions in 12 states on its “Best in the Midwest” list for 2021. The rankings list Marietta as one of 655 colleges nationwide as one of the “regional bests.”
The selection process for Princeton Review
Washington Monthly
Marietta is ranked 32nd out of 223 Baccalaureate Colleges across the nation in the 2024 rankings. Marietta also is ranked 6th in Service.
The selection process for Washington Monthly