Contact: Rick Peterson, 920-832-6590
APPLETON, WIS. – Lawrence University was ranked 67th among 250 national liberal arts colleges in U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 “America’s Best Colleges” report released today (8/17).
One of numerous college guides released each August, U.S. News’ annual version uses a combination of subjective information such as peer assessment and statistical analysis of a variety of factors it considers indicative of academic excellence — graduation rates, student retention and alumni support, among others — in determining its rankings.
Lawrence had strong showings in the areas of incoming students ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school class (38 percent), graduation rate (76 percent), full-time faculty (94 percent) and alumni giving rate (43 percent) while also showing increases in freshman retention rate (90 percent) and classes with less than 20 students (75 percent) from the previous year.
“We’re happy to see U.S. News report on things like our alumni giving rate, which, even in a challenging economy, continues to be among the nation’s highest as well as freshman retention rate, which in our case, was an increase over the previous year’s already high rate,” said Ken Anselment, director of admissions at Lawrence. “High student retention and alumni giving rates tell us that people’s satisfaction with their Lawrence experience is both consistent and lasting.”
In its guide, U.S. News also includes lists and rankings of a wide variety of other niche categories, without regard for size or type of institution. Lawrence was ranked 36th nationally in a survey of guidance counselors from America’s best high schools who were asked which liberal arts colleges they think offer the best education to their students.
“Even more than the rankings,” said Anselment, “we’re thrilled to know that high school counselors — who best understand the nuances of quality and fit between students and colleges—continue to think very highly of the Lawrence experience and recommend it to some of their best students.”
Williams College of Massachusetts earned the magazine’s top spot in the national liberal arts college category for the seventh consecutive year. Harvard University was the top-ranked institution in U.S. News’ national universities category after sharing the no. 1 ranking last year with Princeton University, which was ranked second this year.
In compiling its annual “America’ s Best Colleges” guide, U.S. News & World Report evaluates nearly 1,500 of the nation’s public and private four-year schools, using data from up to 16 separate factors, each of which is assigned a “weight” that reflects the magazine editor’s judgment as to how much that measure matters. Each school’s composite weighted score is then compared to peer institutions to determine final rankings.
Institutions are divided into several distinct categories. In addition to the best liberal arts college category that measures national institutions like Lawrence, other rankings are based on universities that grant master and doctorate degrees and colleges that are considered “regional” institutions.
About Lawrence University
Charting an uncommon course in higher education for more than 160 years, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. It ranks among the nation’s best small, private colleges, and was selected for inclusion in the book “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College.” The development of multiple interests and community engagement are central to the Lawrence experience, where classes or creative and research projects tailored to students’ educational interests and life objectives are prevalent. Lawrence draws its 1,425 students from 44 states and 33 countries. Its picturesque, residential campus is nestled on the banks of the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin. For more information about Lawrence University visit http://www.lawrence.edu
