The University of Minnesota, Morris is again listed as one of the nation's "top public liberal arts colleges" in the 2003 U.S. News and World Report rankings of "America's Best Colleges." The college is ranked fourth in a list of five top public liberal arts colleges and is the only college in the upper midwest to be included in the list. UMM has been consistently ranked as a national leader by U.S. News and World Report.
In addition to its "tops" ranking, the college moved up a tier within the national liberal arts college category, taking its place as one of only three public institutions included in the third tier nationally of elite liberal arts colleges.
UMM students incur less debt than many of their counterparts at other liberal arts colleges. With an average debt load of $10,490, UMM was ranked 13th in the category of "least debt." UMM ranked in the top 50 liberal arts colleges in measures of campus diversity.
UMM is one of two colleges in its comparison group where 100% of faculty teach full time. Other strong quality measures include percent of freshmen who rank in the top 10% of their high school classes (45%) and average freshmen retention rate (81%).
The survey ranks 218 private and public liberal arts colleges awarding the bachelor's degree and emphasizing undergraduate education by awarding at least 50% of their degrees in the liberal arts. UMM is the only public liberal arts college in the upper midwest to be included within the national liberal arts college category, which includes the nation's most prestigious private liberal arts colleges. Private national liberal arts colleges in the category include: Amherst College (MA), Wellesley College (MA), Pomona (CA), Williams (MS) and Colorado College. Minnesota private colleges included in the national liberal arts classification include: Carleton, Macalester, and Gustavus Adolphus.
The survey is conducted yearly, with categories based on the Carnegie Foundation's Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, which groups American colleges and universities on the basis of their missions and educational functions. Another 324 undergraduate colleges who award less than 50% of their degrees in the liberal arts are included in the survey and categorized in a separate listing as "comprehensive colleges," grouped by four U.S. geographic regions.
"We are gratified and tickled to be cited again as one of the nation's top public liberal arts colleges," commented Chancellor Sam Schuman. " This is an encouraging recognition of our increasing national stature as one of the very best institutions in our niche in America. Of course, our goal is to excel in liberal learning for our students, not to make it to the top of the rankings...but it is great to be able to do both. And, in both, we are determined to keep doing better and better!"
It is the goal of the University of Miinnesota, Morris, an undergraduate liberal arts campus of the University of Minnesota, to be the best public liberal arts college in America. UMM was declared "a model liberal arts college" by The Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in its recent reaccreditation report.
UMM's mission is highly distinctive as an academically rigorous, public undergraduate liberal arts college. Established by the University of Minnesota Board of Regents in 1959, the guiding principles of selective admissions and academic excellence in a residential campus atmosphere have become ever stronger as the campus enters its fifth decade.
Campus Home |
Prospective Students |
Current Students |
Alumni and
Friends
Academics |
Visitors |
Library |
Registrar |
Computing
Continuing Education |
Departments |
People |
Athletics |
Search |
Events
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
© 2000 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota
Last Modified Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Page URL: http://www.morris.umn.edu/news/00stories/20020918e.shtml
Please e-mail questions or comments to:
Judy Riley, Campus Communications Coordinator