Alma College ranked among nation’s best

Alma College ranked among nation’s best

Alma College officials are always pleased when an outside organization ranks the school high among the nation’s schools.

When the college was again named one of the schools in the “Best in the Midwest” by the Princeton Review – not affiliated with Princeton University – officials appreciated the honor.

The college was one of 152 institutions in the region chosen by the Princeton Review.

The rankings are based on academic rigor, admissions selectivity, quality of campus life and financial aid.

Students and college officials are asked to complete surveys that are then provided to the organization.

But there are rankings and there are rankings.

College Spokesman Mike Silverthorn said some are based solely on finances.

The school doesn’t pay a lot of attention to some of these rankings as it’s “very difficult” to determine what specific criteria they are based on, Alma College President Jeff Abernathy said.

But the Washington Monthly, a Washington, D.C. publication that puts out an annual college ranking list, is one the school is particularly proud of.

Alma College is ranked 41st nationally in the category of liberal arts, Silverthorn said.

Compared to other Michigan colleges of similar size, Alma comes out on top. Calvin College is ranked 72, Kalamazoo College is 80th, Olivet comes in at 125, Hope at 137 and Albion at 166.

Washington Monthly also ranks the school fourth in the nation for community service participation and 33rd nationally in graduation rates.