Gustavus Adolphus College is listed as the 33rd best liberal arts college in the country according to a new set of college rankings released Thursday by Washington Monthly magazine.
The publication states on its website that schools were ranked based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and PhDs), and service (encouraging students to give something back to their country).
Several other factors contributed to Gustavus’ high ranking including its outstanding graduation rate, its tradition of sending a high number of graduates to the Peace Corps, and the number of graduates who go on to earn a PhD.
“This particular set of rankings goes to the heart of the mission and core values of our great institution,” President Jack R. Ohle said. “This ranking reaffirms the fact that Gustavus is committed to academic excellence and determined to ensure justice and fairness through lives of leadership and service.”
Seven Minnesota colleges were listed in the top 100 including Carleton (9th), St. John’s University (18th), Macalester College (19th), St. Olaf College (55th), the College of St. Benedict (80th), and Concordia College, Moorhead (83rd).
Washington Monthly is a monthly magazine based in Washington, D.C., that focuses on United States politics and government. Founded in 1969, the magazine started releasing college rankings in 2006 as an alternative college guide to the one published by U.S. News and World Report.
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Media Contact: Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication Luc Hatlestad
luch@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510