Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) ranks in the top tier of the 2017 U.S. News and World Report’s annual rankings of “America’s Best Colleges.” SMWC is listed among the Best Regional Colleges in the Midwest and moved up three spots to number 18. For the ninth consecutive year, U.S. News and World Report recognized the College.
“This recognition is a reflection of full breadth and depth of what a private, liberal arts college delivers to students,” said Dottie King, Ph.D., president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. “Our faculty and staff continues to demonstrate their strong commitment to engage our students academically and spiritually – whether on campus or online.”
According to the selection methodology, the regional colleges focus on the undergraduate experience and offer a broad range of programs in the liberal arts and in fields such as business, education and nursing. Most of the 334 colleges in the regional category primarily attract students from neighboring states.
SMWC was recognized for having one of the highest percentages of classes under 20 students at 97 percent, an average first-year student retention rate of 80 percent and 31 percent of freshmen were in the top 25 percent of their high school classes. With a low faculty-to-student ratio of 8:1, many opportunities exist for faculty-student research, meaningful interaction and collaboration, which has become a hallmark of a Woods education.
This year’s rankings included reviews of 1,374 schools nationwide to assist students and their families in the higher education decision making process. The Best Colleges 2017 Guidebook, published by U.S. News & World Report will be available on newsstands in mid-October.