Outstanding professors, strong fine arts and career services boost profile
Wabash College continues
to hold its place among the best institutions for undergraduate
education by the Princeton Review in its annual college guide.
Inclusion
in the Princeton Review’s “Best 381 Colleges” means that Wabash ranks
among the top 15 percent of 2,500 U.S.-based four-year colleges. The
review includes detailed profiles of the best schools with rating scores
in eight categories. Wabash received an overall academic rating of 94
with scores of 98 in the categories associated with teaching faculty
availability and engagement.
In
addition, the Princeton Review’s college guide includes lists of Top 20
schools in 62 categories, which are based on surveys of 130,000 college
students collected during the 2015-16 academic year.
Wabash ranked in the Top 20 in nine categories overall.
“From
day one of their Wabash experience, our students are interested and
engaged in transforming their exceptional liberal arts education,” said
Dean of Students Mike Raters. “The faculty and staff along with what is
our most significant not-so-secret weapons — our alumni and business
leaders — work with our young men to ensure their post-graduate
successes.”
The liberal arts
college for men consistently gets high ratings for its faculty,
including No. 10 for the “Most Accessible Professors” and No. 18 for
“Professors Get High Marks.” Students cited a strong relationship with
faculty who push them academically, challenge thinking, and are
supportive and helpful in developing a broad-based educational
experience.
“I appreciate the
Princeton Review rankings because they highlight the dedication of our
faculty, staff, and alumni to the education of young men,” said Dean of
the College Scott Feller. “I am especially pleased to see the strength
of our fine arts programs recognized as well as the accessibility of
faculty.”
Wabash ranked No. 16
in “Best Health Services,” and for the second consecutive year, Wabash
ranked in the top-20 (No. 15) for Best College Theater.
“We
do really interesting work that is devised from student work in the
classroom,” said Wabash Theater Professor Jim Cherry. “We are producing
new plays all the time. The product that we produce is really on par
with any college in terms of the sophistication of the direction, the
quality of the acting, and the design from costumes, to stage, to
lighting – it’s absolutely top-notch. The ranking is great, but it
doesn’t surprise me because the work we do here is really strong and
it’s a department that punches above it’s weight.”
The
College’s Schroeder Center for Career Development received high marks
for its efforts, ranking No. 5 in “Top Internship Opportunities” and
“Best Alumni Network” to go with a No. 8 placement in “Best Career
Services.”
“We
are pleased to be recognized for excellence, but it truly takes a team
effort,” said Scott Crawford, Director of Schroeder Center. “Everyone
works hard to support and engage our students, from our dedicated staff,
to our Peer Career Advisors, the faculty and staff all across campus,
and a deep bench of alumni.”
Wabash
was named one of the top institutions in the Midwest and listed as a
“College That Pays You Back” — a designation that takes into account
factors like career placement, financial aid and career earnings
following graduation.
Among the
other top-20 rankings, Wabash ranked No. 3 in “Everyone Plays
Intramural Sports” and No. 8 in “Best Athletic Facilities.”