University marks 22nd year in top spot in the 2021 Maclean’s rankings

SACKVILLE, NB – Mount Allison University has been named the #1 undergraduate university in Canada by Maclean’s magazine in the annual university rankings issue, published Thursday, October 8, 2020.

“We are pleased to have been recognized as Canada’s top undergraduate university in the 2021 Maclean’s University rankings,” says Mount Allison President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jean-Paul Boudreau. “The annual rankings report is an important external measure of the University’s reputation, and together, with other measures, help us share the Mount Allison story and experience.”

In the primarily undergraduate category, Mount Allison took top spot in medical and science grants and library expenses and ranked second for student satisfaction and operating budget. The University placed third for students awards, student to faculty ratio (16:1), scholarships and bursaries, and in the reputational survey, which surveys business leaders as well as senior university administrators and faculty members from across the country for their views on quality and innovation at Canadian universities.

In the Maclean’s student satisfaction survey, which surveyed over 14,000 students nationally, Mount Allison ranked second overall in its category, first for course instructors and administrative staff, and took second place for experiential learning and extracurricular activities.

Mount Allison’s faculty members also received strong accolades. The group was ranked first in the country with 100% of full-time instructional faculty members having a PhD, first professional degree, or a terminal degree (other highest-level degree) in their field. Mount Allison’s faculty also ranked fourth in the primarily undergraduate category for faculty awards, which tallied the number of full-time professors, per 1,000 students, who have won national awards over the past five years.

The 2021 rankings mark the 30th anniversary of the annual publication. Mount Allison has been named the number one undergraduate university for a record 22 years, more than any other undergraduate school. The Sackville, NB university has never ranked outside the top four.

“This past year has been particularly challenging as we continually adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, but accolades like these show the importance of a strong team across campus with an emphasis on both academics and support for students.” says Boudreau. “This will continue to be the foundation of the Mount Allison experience. The Maclean’s report — along with other, external measures — provides a reflective lens against which we can assess areas of strength as well as areas we can improve.While navigating the impacts of COVID-19 has been paramount this year, Mount Allison also remains committed to innovating for the future.”

The University recently announced more than a dozen new or revamped academic opportunities in a variety of program areas aimed at providing an interdisciplinary education for its students. The many new offerings include joint majors, degree minors, and embedded certificates in topics such as Geocomputing, Women’s and Gender Studies, and Cognitive Science.

The Maple League of Universities, of which Mount Allison is a founding member, also enjoyed high marks in this year’s rankings. Its four member universities — Mount Allison, Acadia, Bishops, and St. Francis Xavier all placed in the top ten for primarily undergraduate universities. Founded in 2013, the Maple League of Universities is committed to outstanding teaching, exceptional hands-on research experiences, collaborating closely with students, and creating unique opportunities to contribute to communities at home and around the world.

Mount Allison will be holding a virtual open house this year from October 13-16, 2020. The four-day event will include virtual sessions with campus ambassadors, current students, faculty, and staff members, as well as campus tours, mini lectures, and on-the-spot admissions. Future students and their families can find a full schedule and registration information on the Open House page.

The Maclean’s 2021 rankings issue is available online and will be on newsstands shortly: https://www.macleans.ca/education/university-rankings-2021/