U.S. News recognizes Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø for undergraduate teaching, best value

Rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report recognizes Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø as a top institution for undergraduate teaching among national liberal arts colleges. 

Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø was the only Illinois school recognized in this category, which highlights schools for excellence in undergraduate teaching. Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø moved up 19 spots, tying for 36th, along with six other schools among national liberal arts programs. Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø tied with Colby Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø, Colgate University, Dickinson Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø, Earlham Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø, Hamilton Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø and Sarah Lawrence Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø.

Additionally, Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø ranked 100th among national liberal arts colleges in this year¡¯s rankings, in a tie with six other schools. This category includes institutions that almost exclusively focus on undergraduate education and award at least 50% of its degrees in the arts and sciences.

Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø was once again recognized in the ¡°Best Value Schools¡± category, earning the 67th spot along with only four Illinois schools included in this category.

Provost Dr. Dianna Shandy said Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø is a relationship-rich institution with a long history of blending the traditional liberal arts with pre-professional programs. 

She said rising in the ranks as a top ¡°undergraduate teaching¡± college recognizes Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø¡¯s faculty who always put students and teaching at the center of all that they do. Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø maintains a 12:1 student-faculty ratio, and classes are taught by faculty, not graduate teaching assistants.

¡°We are an institution that teaches students how to learn,¡± said Dr. Shandy. ¡°This prepares them to navigate the world and a future career that will be filled with many twists and turns. Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø is always pushing itself to be at the forefront of meeting students¡¯ needs and providing them with an excellent and relevant education.¡±

Dr. Shandy said this approach is reflected in new academic programs ¨C including film, integrative medicine and medical humanities, and data analytics. She said Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø students successfully complete multiple majors while participating in a breadth of co-curricular activities, such as arts, music and athletics, and still graduate within four years. 

In addition to offering 100 majors and related areas of study, Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø is proud to award 183 Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible grants to first-year students enrolled this fall. The innovative new program meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for qualifying students. Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible removes financial barriers for high-achieving students with families with lower incomes to attend Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø, and many grant recipients are the first in their families to attend college.

¡°We are thrilled to be able to expand access to an Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø education, which allows us to provide transformational experiences to even more students,¡± Dr. Shandy said. 

This is the 39th ranking edition issued by U.S. News. The 2024 rankings evaluated nearly 1,500 colleges and universities on as many as 19 measures. The complete rankings are available at usnews.com/best-colleges.