Oakland, CA - The Washington Monthly College Rankings (September 2006) has named Mills College one of the country’s leading liberal arts colleges.  Ranked 36 of 202 institutions, Mills was highly rated based on the College’s community service, research spending, quality of preparation for graduate education, and social mobility. The category of social mobility is based on the graduation rate, given the institution’s percentage of Pell Grant recipients and average SAT scores.

In ranking colleges, the Washington Monthly distinguishes itself from U.S. News & World Report by focusing on informing taxpayers and parents about how well their money for research grants and student aid is being used. According to the Washington Monthly, “(Colleges and universities) undertake vital research that drives our economy. They help Americans who are poor to become Americans who will prosper. And they shape the thoughts and ethics of the young Americans who will soon be leading the country. It's worth knowing, then, which individual colleges and universities fit the bill.”

According to an editorial in the San Francisco Chronicle (August 10, 2006) “…if we ran the world, the college rankings that would matter most would be the annual ones from the Washington Monthly… the Washington Monthly's list reminds us of a few lessons that U.S. News & World Report has swept under the rug. The first is that universities have a responsibility to benefit all of society, not just the students who can get in. The second—and the one we should be passing on to our children—is that there's more than one way to be competitive.”

Mills College is a nationally renowned, independent liberal arts college offering innovative degree programs for undergraduate women, and graduate degree and certificate programs for women and men. Consistently ranked among the top 75 liberal arts colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Mills is also recognized as one of the country’s 20 most diverse liberal arts colleges. The Princeton Review selected Mills as one of 11 colleges for first-time inclusion in its Best 361 Colleges in 2005. Nestled in the foothills of Oakland, California on 135 lush acres, Mills provides a dynamic liberal arts education fostering women’s leadership, social responsibility, and creativity.

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