Northland College is ranked in the top tier of the U.S. News & World Report’s 2015 ranking of best national liberal arts colleges, which was released today.
National liberal arts colleges are those that emphasize undergraduate education and award at least half their degrees in the arts and sciences.
U.S. News & World Report uses such factors as classes with fewer than 20 students (70 percent at Northland College) and student-faculty ratio (11:1). Assessments by high school guidance counselors, freshman retention rates, the percentage of alumni giving and acceptance rates also are among the data included in the methodology.
This year’s 30th edition of Best Colleges includes data on nearly 1,800 colleges and universities. Eligible schools are ranked on up to 16 measures of academic excellence.
“We’re pleased to be included on such a highly watched list and to have validated the high quality of our college and the education we provide to our students,” said President Mike Miller.
In a less conventional ranking, Her Campus named Northland College of “the 10 most free-spirited colleges in the country.”
Her Campus is the number one global community for college women. With a team of more than 4,000 students at more than 240 colleges and universities contributing to the site, Her Campus rated Northland College in the top ten, along with Berkeley, Oberlin, Warren Wilson and Lewis & Clark as that promote "growing their own organic food, social responsibility and environmental sustainability".
Writes Her Campus: “The typical student is described as being friendly . . . with a penchant for activism and outdoor activities. In fact, life at Northland begins with a required Outdoor Orientation trip, in which first-year students participate in five- to 12-day adventures in the Wisconsin wilderness.”
Northland College freshmen recently completed their August wilderness trips before starting classes last week.
“This list confirms what I’ve always been so proud of — that we have a student body of spirited, driven and energetic individuals who strive to make the world a better and more sustainable place,” Miller said.