Students’ strong commitment to service and alumni’s post-graduate earnings boosted Willamette University’s rankings in Washington Monthly magazine’s 2018 College Guide and Rankings.
Of 228 liberal arts colleges and universities listed, Willamette ranks No. 46 overall, up seven spots from last year. Willamette is the highest-listed liberal arts college in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest and is also ranked among western four-year colleges providing the “best bang for the buck.”
Since 2005, the magazine has ranked four-year schools “based on their contribution to the public good” in three areas: recruiting and graduating low-income students, producing cutting-edge scholarship through research and encouraging students to give back through service.
College of Liberal Arts Dean Ruth Feingold says this national recognition is particularly important because it focuses on both individual student outcomes and also on Willamette’s role in improving society.
“This gets to the heart of what we try to do here: to educate and empower students to improve their own lives and to make the world a better place,” she says. “Washington Monthly’s emphasis on community and civic engagement is strongly in line with Willamette’s values.”
Willamette ranked No. 24 for graduate earnings performance, No. 17 for Peace Corps involvement and No. 29 for research expenditures.
The magazine determined graduate earnings using data from alumni and dropouts, student majors and cost of living estimates. Universities’ research scores were based on measures such as the total amount of the institution’s spending, while community service scores were based in part on data from the Corporation for National and Community Service.