Hope College continues to fare well in the multiple college guides, some in print and some online, published across the summer and fall.
Hope continues to be listed among the best liberal arts colleges in the nation in the annual rankings compiled by "U.S. News and World Report," at 99th out of the 249 institutions that are considered national liberal arts colleges. In addition, Hope is among the 32 institutions of all types and one of only seven national liberal arts colleges that the publication recognizes for providing outstanding undergraduate research/creative project opportunities, is one of the 86 national liberal arts colleges in a listing of "A-Plus Schools for B Students" and is 88th in the listing of high school counselors' "top picks" among national liberal arts colleges, and engineering is included in the overview of 202 ABET-accredited programs at institutions where the highest degree is a bachelor's or master's.
The rankings were announced on Tuesday, Sept. 9, and are featured on the "U.S. News & World Report" website at colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges.
The “Fiske Guide to Colleges,” now in its 31st edition, continues to include Hope as one of only about 300 colleges and universities (from among more than 2,200 four-year institutions nationwide) that it highlights as “the best and most interesting institutions in the nation—the ones that students most want to know about.”
The publication features institutional profiles that provide information on academics, campus setting, student body, financial aid, housing, food, social life and co-curricular activities, and integrate reflections from students. The 2015 guide notes that “Hope’s “academic and athletic programs continue to grow and prosper, helped out by an array of new facilities.” One of the students quoted observed that “The academic programs, particularly the research and collaborative opportunities, far surpass those of Hope’s rivals,” while another noted that “Hope is a place where students are challenged to become better students… but, more important, better people.”
Hope is one of 650 institutions included in the “America’s Top Colleges 2014” guide published by “Forbes Magazine.” Hope is 172nd in the “Forbes” listing, which bases its rankings on five general categories: how satisfied students are with their college experience; graduates’ professional success; student debt; student graduation in four years; and students’ achievement in obtaining nationally competitive awards such as Goldwater scholarships, National Science Foundation fellowships and Fulbright awards, or going on to earn a doctorate.
Best Colleges.com has named Hope one of the “50 Top Christian Colleges” in the United States, ranking the college 23rd. The institutions were selected for offering the best academic programs and student experiences, and placing an emphasis on the teachings of Christ.
Hope is eighth in the nation in the "50 Safest Colleges in America 2014-2015 Rankings" posted by universityprimetime.com Hope is the only institution in Michigan and one of only two colleges or universities in the Midwest in the top 10.
Hope was named a “Top Best Value College” in the ETC (Educate to Career Inc.) College Rankings Index. The index considers the economic value added by each of the more than 1,200 colleges ranked, calculating the improvement in earnings and employability of persons who attended specific colleges relative to other colleges. The “Best Value” institutions are within the top third of the index.
“Money” magazine has ranked Hope 235th in the nation, and one of the top five schools in Michigan, among the 665 colleges and universities that it lists in its 2014 guide (chosen from among approximately 1,500 four-year institutions nationwide). The rankings are based on 17 factors in three categories: educational quality, affordability and alumni earnings provided by PayScale.com.