St. Norbert College posts big jump in 2011 U.S. News and World Report's guide to "America's Best Colleges"

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From St. Norbert College, August 17, 2010
by Mike Counter, mike.counter@snc.edu, (920) 403-3089

The 2011 U.S. News and World Report rankings have just been released and St. Norbert College is once again named one of "America's Best National Liberal Arts Colleges," jumping fourteen spots to number 127.

Several factors help account for the college's leap in the rankings. Its freshman retention rate is 82 percent, its graduation rate exceeds by 3 percent the predicted rate based on the college's student body, and 89 percent of the faculty are full-time, all key criteria in judging schools. Peer assessment, graduation rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving are also key factors.
For 18 years, U.S. News & World Report ranked St. Norbert College among the top comprehensive colleges in the Midwest. This is the fourth year the college has been listed among the nation's best liberal arts colleges. The change comes following St. Norbert College's reclassification in 2006 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching--an independent policy and research center which partners with U.S. News & World Report for its rankings.

"St. Norbert College is delighted and gratified to move ahead in the rankings again this year," said St. Norbert College President Thomas Kunkel. "This recognizes the momentum we have in building the St. Norbert College student experience. The rankings come at a time when we are bringing in our largest class in history--with the best academic profile in history. U.S. News once again recognizes our pursuit of excellence."
"We appreciate this recognition and are proud to be among the nation's best liberal arts colleges," he said.
U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" guide can be found on-line at http://www.usnews.com. The guidebook will be on newsstands Tuesday, Aug. 24.
St. Norbert was also recently ranked among the best colleges and universities in the country by Forbes.com. The magazine's third annual list ranks more than 600 schools in the country. St. Norbert College was ranked number 152, out of all colleges and universities in the nation.
Forbes examined a number of criteria in determining its rankings, including: the amount of enjoyment students get out of their classes, students' success after graduation, the amount of debt incurred while in school, and success of students in distinguishing themselves academically.

To view the complete Forbes.com rankings and learn more about the methodology, go to http://tinyurl.com/forbescolleges.