U.S. News Ranks Adrian as 'School to Watch' posted 8/25/08
College is one of only five baccalaureate schools in the nation listed in this category

ADRIAN, Mich. - In its 2009 edition of America’s Best Colleges, U.S. News & World Report ranks Adrian College as 22nd in the Midwest region in its “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” section. Ranking information can be found at www.usnews.com.

According to U.S. News, baccalaureate colleges are those institutions that “focus on undergraduate education and offer a range of degree programs – in the liberal arts, which account for fewer than half of their bachelor’s degrees, and in professional fields such as business, nursing, and education.”

Since last year the College has been categorized differently, moving from “Best Liberal Arts Colleges” to “Best Baccalaureate Colleges.” There are 320 baccalaureate colleges within four regions: North, South, Midwest, and West. Forty-eight schools are included in the Midwest.

“To be listed as the twenty-second best baccalaureate college in the Midwest is a great honor,” says Dr. Jeffrey R. Docking, president of Adrian College. “It illustrates the improvements brought about by the hard work of the campus community over the past three years.”

Adrian was also ranked as a “School to Watch”. According to U.S. News, in the Spring 2008 top college officials identified 70 colleges and universities throughout the country as schools that have recently made the most promising and innovative changes in academics, faculty, students, campus, or facilities.

These 70 institutions were ranked with other schools within the same categories used for the regular U.S. News rankings. Under the baccalaureate colleges category, Adrian was named as the only school to watch in the Midwest.

President Docking is very pleased about this ranking.

“It is equally affirming to know that Adrian College is one of five baccalaureate colleges in the United States to be listed as a “School to Watch” in the year ahead,” says Docking. “U.S. News chose Adrian for its promising future and innovative changes in ‘academics, faculty, students, campus, and facilities.’ This is a very prestigious honor and one that bodes well for Adrian’s future."