FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, August 28, 2008
BETHANY RISES IN TOP COLLEGE RANKINGS – AGAIN
LINDSBORG, Kan.—Earning the highest spot for a Kansas college in its category, Bethany College has been ranked as 37th in the Midwest region of U.S. News and World Report’s 2009 “Best Baccalaureate Colleges”.
A rise from last year’s 44th-place rank, which itself was a significant increase, this also marks the second straight year that Bethany has been classified in the top tier of the Midwest region.
“Rankings can help high school students in their college decision process. But students who visit campus will find that Bethany is more than a ranking,” said Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Tricia Hawk.
“Students choose to come here because of our small class sizes and friendly learning atmosphere, because of the people and programs we have,” she said. “So a rising college ranking is a good way to draw students’ attention to what those of us on campus know: Bethany College offers a quality education.”
“Along with an occasion to take pride in Bethany, the college rankings system is one way for us to gauge our academic quality in comparison to our peers,” said Bethany College President Edward F. Leonard III.
Since about 75% of a school’s ranking is based on indicators of academic quality, with the other 25% based on peer assessment, “Bethany’s high ranking affirms the college as both academically strong and well-regarded in the Midwest region,” he said.
Bethany also had high rankings in several key indicators in its category, including:
- 7th in “Proportion of Classes Under 20”
- 8th in “Campus Ethnic Diversity”
- 10th in “Average Amount of Need-Based Aid Awarded”
- 16th in “International Students”.
Bethany was ranked slightly above Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kan., and Dana College, Blair, Neb., which tied for 38th with two other colleges.
Dana is a sister college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Other Lutheran colleges ranked in the Midwest region included Augustana College (third) and Carthage College (10th).The baccalaureate colleges category includes schools that focus on undergraduate education, and grant fewer than 50 percent of their degrees in liberal arts disciplines. The 319 baccalaureate colleges are divided into four regions.
The ratings appeared in the “America’s Best Colleges” report by U.S. News and World Report in their Aug. 26 issue. The magazine annually evaluates accredited four-year schools. For more information, visit www.usnews.com/colleges.
Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to nurture and challenge individuals in their search for truth and meaning as they lead lives of faith, learning and service. Bethany College is on the Web at www.bethanylb.edu.
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