Sioux County, Iowa — Two northwest Iowa colleges are among the best Midwest regional colleges in U.S. News & World Report‘s newest rankings.
The magazine’s annual ranking of the best post-secondary institutions has recently been released. Coming in at number eight on the list of Best Regional Colleges in the Midwest was Dordt College in Sioux Center. Just a few miles down the road, Northwestern College of Orange City was rated number ten on that list. Other colleges in our area on the list included Augustana University in Sioux Falls at number three, Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska at number 17, Buena Vista University in Storm Lake at number 24, Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota at number 30, Briar Cliff University in Sioux City at number 31, and Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska at number 54.
The magazine says the rankings focus on best academic value for the money and consider such factors as first-year student retention, graduation rates, and the strength of the faculty.
Dordt College President Erik Hoekstra says that the Dordt family is thankful and humbled to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report for their quality of education. He says, “Our outstanding faculty and dedicated staff develop meaningful relationships with our students and invest deeply in their education, discipleship, and growth.”
Northwestern College President Greg Christy says that the Northwestern family is encouraged when the high quality of a Northwestern education is affirmed. He says the ranking is a mark of the excellence of Northwestern’s faculty and “their commitment to teaching and mentoring students as they prepare to pursue God’s redeeming work in the world.”
Dordt and Northwestern were also named on a list of several Midwest Colleges called “A-plus Schools for B Students” by the publication. That list recognizes colleges where every student can thrive academically.
