After a formal critique of the Maroon, the Associate Collegiate Press ranked the weekly newspaper as a First-Class publication with two Marks of Distinction.

The Associated Collegiate Press critique is a voluntary review process, and a first-class ranking is the second-highest ranking any publication can earn. This places the Maroon in the top 17 percent of all student publications in the nation.

The Associated Collegiate Press, the oldest and largest national membership organizations for college student journalists, awards student publications annually.

The Maroon received Marks of Distinction in two categories: photography and campus leadership. The judges gave numerical rankings in six categories. The Maroon earned 880 points out of a possible 1,090.