NWC again ranked fourth by U.S. News
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Northwestern is tied with Dordt for fourth out of the 94 institutions in the Midwestern baccalaureate college category. Other Iowa colleges in that category include Buena Vista and Loras (tied for 11th), Mt. Mercy (19th), Morningside (23rd) and Briar Cliff (35th). Five other Iowa colleges are ranked in the third and fourth tiers of that category.
The rankings are based on key measures of quality such as academic reputation; retention (freshman retention and graduation rate); faculty resources (including class size, the percentage of faculty with the top academic degree, student-faculty ratio and compensation); student selectivity; financial resources; and alumni giving.
“This high ranking speaks to the quality of our faculty and staff, as well as to how our institution is viewed by others,” says Greg Christy, Northwestern’s president. “It’s very affirming to be known for having excellent academic and co-curricular programs.”
The U.S. News ranking follows other recent recognitions for Northwestern. Earlier this month Forbes.com ranked Northwestern as the sixth-best college in Iowa and 212th out of 600 top institutions. In July the college was named among the “Best in the Midwest” by Princeton Review.
Northwestern, which has had two faculty members named Iowa Professor of the Year since 2004, scored high in the U.S. News ranking’s peer assessment, tying for fifth in its category.
The America’s Best Colleges guidebook will be available at newsstands beginning Aug. 25. Information also is posted at www.usnews.com.
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