Westminster College Ranked Third in Graduation Rate Performance

Westminster College is among the nation's best in enhancing the educational achievement of its students, according to a national study released today.

U.S. News & World Report's 2004 Guide to America's Best Colleges cited Westminster as one of the nation's best in enhancing the educational achievement of its students. Westminster ranked third among Liberal Arts Colleges - Bachelor's, and seventh in the country in graduation rate performance. Westminster College's 79% graduation rate was 19% higher than predicted.

Concordia College-Moorehead, Minnesota, (+24%), and Lane College, Tennessee (+20%) were the only Liberal Arts Colleges - Bachelor's with higher graduation rate performances. Widener College, Pennsylvania (+29%), South Carolina State University (+28%), and Jackson State University, Mississippi (+20%) were the only National Universities - Doctoral with higher graduation rate performances.

The indicator, developed by U.S. News and previously called "value added," is designed to capture the effect of the college's programs and policies on the graduation rate of its students. U.S. News arrives at the score by measuring the difference between a school's six-year graduation rate for the class that entered in 1996, and the predicted graduation rate for the class. The predicted graduation rate is calculated using a formula that accounts for the standardized test scores of these students and the school's expenditures on them over the years. If the actual graduation rate is higher than the predicted rate, the college is enhancing the students' achievement.

"We are pleased to be recognized by the national media for serving our students -- Westminster's number one objective. Westminster is a student-centered college, and this ranking reflects that commitment," said Westminster College President R. Thomas Williamson.

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching reclassified higher education institutions late in 2000 resulting in a new classification system for U.S. News & World Report. The former National Liberal Arts College category has been replaced by Liberal Arts Colleges - Bachelor's. This year 217 colleges were included in the category, and these institutions must award at least 50 percent of their degrees in liberal arts disciplines and emphasize undergraduate education.

Westminster was also recognized as one of "The Best 351 Colleges" by The Princeton Review, and has been honored by Yahoo! Internet Life as "one of America's Most Wired Colleges" and by the Templeton Guide as a "Character Building College."

Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster is the most affordable national liberal arts college in Pennsylvania. Over 1,600 students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty, while choosing from 40 majors and nearly 100 campus organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa. campus.

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