Wilmington College selected among nation’s top rural colleges, garners other national and regional recognition

Early fall coincides not only with the start of the new school year, but also ushers in the season for announcing college rankings. It’s a crowded field for what used to be singularly highlighted by U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best College rankings.

This year, U.S. News ranked Wilmington College 36th among Top Private Midwest Region Colleges and 39th overall among schools classified as Midwest Region Colleges — the third highest among Ohio schools. The Midwest Region includes 12 states. Also, WC earned a 22nd-place regional ranking for social mobility. In addition, U.S. News recognized WC for “consistent academic excellence,” as only 30 percent of evaluated colleges earned a high ranking five or more years in a row.

Several of the lesser-known ranking organizations look at other aspects of higher education, like Niche, which selected WC’s agriculture program among the top 100 in the nation and ranked the College among the 20 Best Value Colleges in Ohio. Niche, an organization that assists students in finding best-fit schools, includes such criteria as net price, alumni earnings, graduation rate and the amount of student debt in its Best Value rankings.

Washington Monthly, which professes to present “a different type of college ranking,” named Wilmington College among the country’s top 300 Best Universities and Colleges in the Midwest, which includes some 900 schools. It also ranked WC in the top 75 for Best Rural Colleges among 1,200 in the nation. Washington Monthly noted that the selection criteria for the top rural schools take into account offering degrees in demand in rural areas, student loan debt at graduation and earning performance four years following graduation.

This summer, Colleges of Distinction renewed Wilmington College’s membership for the eighth consecutive year as an institution that highlights engaged students, great teaching, a vibrant community and successful outcomes. 

WC President Corey Cockerill lauded the faculty and staff for “giving so much of themselves” to the students they serve, and their key role as mentors in students’ journey to find their purpose. “Their dedication and commitment set the standard for excellence at Wilmington College,” she added. “This recognition is a direct reflection of their hard work and the meaningful impact they have on our students' lives."