The 25 Hottest Colleges "are creating buzz among students,
a broad array of educators and admissions experts,
and each is effectively preparing students for the complex world."
— 2006 Kaplan/Newsweek College Guide
Wabash College is one of "America’s 25 Hottest Colleges" according to the 2006 edition of the Kaplan/Newsweek College Guide. The guide says, "This year's ‘Hottest Schools’ deserve individual recognition for their best qualities, such as specialty programs, state-of-the-art facilities or comprehensive financial-aid packages. Their shared attribute? All are creating buzz among students, a broad array of educators and admissions experts, and each is effectively preparing students for the complex world."
The popular college guide, prepared by Kaplan in conjunction with Newsweek, hits news stands August 22. In addition to descriptions of the 25 "Hottest Colleges," the guide features college planning tips and ideas on how best to select a college.
Wabash is also ranked 51st in U.S.News & World Report’s annual rankings of national liberal arts colleges.
The weekly newsmagazine categorizes national liberal arts colleges as the 215 liberal arts colleges that emphasize undergraduate education and award at least half of their degrees in the liberal arts disciplines. Williams College, Amherst College, and Swarthmore College were U.S.News & World Report’s top three national liberal arts colleges.
"Wabash gains national visibility from these rankings, which allow us to enter into conversations with families about the opportunities available through a Wabash education. Certainly the rankings are helpful on a national level," adds Klein.
In the breakout sections of the rankings, Wabash ranked eighth nationally in financial resources, 24th nationally in faculty resources, 36th in alumni giving rate. U.S. News also ranked Wabash 31st among national liberal arts colleges in its "Best Value" rankings. The newsmagazine describes its "Best Values" selections as relating "a school’s academic quality, as indicated by its U.S. News ranking, to the net cost of attendance for a student who receives the average level of financial aid."
Wabash is also favorably noted in the 2006 Fiske Guide to Colleges. Wabash is one of 45 schools nationally recognized as a Fiske"Best Buy of 2006." In its profile of Wabash, the Fiske Guide says, "The college is focused on academics and prides itself on intensive and rigorous programs."
The Fiske College Guide’s summary of Wabash’s excellent teaching and overall academic experience echo Wabash’s top national rankings in the 2004 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), in which Wabash set national benchmarks among liberal arts colleges.
"From a marketing perspective, the national rankings are helpful in drawing attention to Wabash when people otherwise might not recognize the outstanding academic programs available here," said director of public affairs and marketing Jim Amidon. "NSSE and Fiske, which is based on student surveys, show us that Wabash students are happy with their college choice and getting the most out of their college experience."