For the second year, Union College has been designated a "Top College" by U.S.News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges." Union has climbed from last year's ranking of 46 to the 28th position for its category, Baccalaureate Colleges Midwest.
Of the 11 criteria U.S. News uses to rank schools, a rise in the peer evaluation score from 2.2 last year to 2.7 contributed most to the jump in rankings. This criterion, worth 25 percent of the overall score, is based on surveys of college administrators.
"It is gratifying to have outside sources affirm what our students, alumni and constituents already know Union has something special to offer," said David Smith, college president." To be ranked in the top tier of Midwestern baccalaureate institutions reflects the commitment to quality which marks the Union College experience."
The U.S. News rankings are created annually as a service to parents and prospective students in selecting colleges. This year, 320 baccalaureate colleges, divided into four regions, are included in the report. The baccalaureate college category includes colleges that offer a range of degree programs in professional fields such as business, nursing and education with liberal arts degrees accounting for fewer than half of the bachelor's degrees conferred.