Mount Saint Mary’s University, the only women’s university in Los Angeles, has been named No. 11 in the inaugural America’s Best Colleges for Women 2026 ranking from Newsweek, in partnership with Gender Fair. The new list is designed to help prospective students, faculty and administrators evaluate how well U.S. colleges support and advance women on campus and beyond. Notably, the Mount stands as the highest-ranking traditional undergraduate institution in the state of California, earning a prominent place among colleges recognized for their exceptional commitment to women’s education and advancement.
“For the past 100 years, Mount Saint Mary’s University has been dedicated to empowering leaders and transforming lives through education,” said Mount Saint Mary’s President Ann McElaney-Johnson, PhD. “This recognition is a powerful reflection of the deep commitment of our faculty and staff to providing a rigorous, high-quality liberal arts education that prepares young women to lead with purpose, confidence and impact.”
The America’s Best Colleges for Women ranking is based on metrics aligned with the Women’s Empowerment Principles to ensure colleges address gender equality. Using data primarily from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and Campus Safety and Security Database, over 1200 colleges nationwide were graded across four critical categories: leadership, pay and policies, safety and opportunity. The ranking highlights institutions that have established strong structural elements to support women’s education and career success.
Mount Saint Mary’s performed strongly across all four categories, earning its highest scores in leadership and campus safety. These results highlight the University’s long-standing dedication to fostering a supportive, inclusive and secure learning environment for young women to excel academically, professionally and personally.
This commitment is further reflected in the University's recent launch of (M)POWER, a comprehensive, four-year student success initiative that aligns closely with the key areas recognized in the Newsweek ranking. Through a structured pathway that blends coursework, real-world experience, and personal development, graduates leave the Mount with a clear sense of purpose, durable skills, and a foundational professional network. (M)POWER is designed to support all students earn their degree, develop career readiness, and reach their full potential for a successful future at the Mount and beyond.
For more information about (M)POWER visit https://www.msmu.edu/mpower/ .
