Newberry College Ranked Among Nation’s Best by U.S. News & World Report

Newberry College earned three rankings on the 2017 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges report published annually by the national magazine. 

Best Colleges in the South (#16)
Best Value for Regional Colleges in the South (#3)
Best Colleges for Veterans-Regional Colleges in the South (#8)

Although Newberry College has ranked in the Top 50 for Best Colleges in the South for a number of years, the private liberal arts college rocketed ahead in this year’s rankings, moving from #41 last year to #16 in the 2017 report.

“It is very rewarding to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as our key performance indicators continue to improve,” said Newberry College President Maurice W. Scherrens. “We are on a journey of continuous assessment and improved effectiveness. The College’s rise in the rankings is a tangible outcome of our efforts.”

Senior English major Madison Darby-McClure noted Newberry’s rise in the rankings reflects many positive changes students are experiencing on campus.

“It’s encouraging to see Newberry College getting recognized for all the great things students see happening on a daily basis,” Darby-McClure said. “I think it recognizes the changes and improvements the College has been making for the past few years.”

Newberry College earned the #3 spot for Best Value for Regional Colleges in the South for 2017, a new ranking for the institution this year.

“Earning the Best Value ranking affirms our sustained efforts over the past several years to ensure that Newberry College one of the best private college values in the region,” said Joel Vander Horst, Dean of Enrollment Management. “We have worked hard to create a highly competitive financial aid package and to offer innovative programs, such as the Loan Repayment Promise, to make us a very attractive choice for students.”

The Newberry College Loan Repayment Promise is a financial safety net that Newberry offers at no cost to students and their families. Starting in 2017, if a student earns less than $40,000 working at least 30 hours a week after graduation from Newberry, the College will help the graduate repay their student loans until they reach that earning threshold.

Newberry College appears once again on the Best Colleges for Veterans in the South list, earning the #8 spot in the rankings this year, up from #28 in the 2016 rankings.

“Newberry’s focus on individualized learning and personalized attention to students makes it an attractive option for veterans and their families,” said Newberry College Military Services Coordinator Susan Epting.

Newberry College Board of Trustees Chairman Hugo A. “Hap” Pearce credited the College’s impressive rise in the rankings to top caliber faculty who are committed to helping students succeed in the classroom and after graduation.

“These U.S. News & World Report rankings highlight what we have known for many years,” Pearce said. “That students don’t have to make a choice between high quality and affordability. We offer them both at Newberry College.”

About the Rankings

U.S. News & World Report ranks colleges by key measures of quality, including graduation and retention rates, alumni giving, student selectivity and financial resources. Newberry College earned high rankings for its low student-teacher ratio (12 to 1) compared to peer schools, high alumni giving (14 percent) and high percentage of small class sizes (64 percent less than 20 students), among other criteria. More at www.usnews.com/colleges.