Aquinas College continues its healthy presence among other institutions of higher learning on the annual college rankings compiled by U.S. News & World Report. For this year’s 2009 rankings Aquinas College landed 13 out of 15 Best Values Colleges in Top Tier Midwest Colleges offering Masters Degrees. Also, Aquinas was ranked 55 out of 67 schools for Best Colleges offering Masters Degrees.

USN&WR yearly ranks colleges and universities that participate in its “ranking system” and has been doing so since 1983. The ranking methodology first categorizes each college or university into its appropriate group - National Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Masters Universities, and Baccalaureate Universities. Next, USN&WR ranks each college or university according to “15 weighted factors relating to academic excellence”. Though the methodology changes year to year, for improvements, a longitudinal look at the history of Aquinas’ rankings can give a look at the strength of the institutional advancement.

Aquinas College press records show that Aquinas made its debut in these notable national rankings in 2002, as third in Best Value among Tier One Colleges that offer Masters Degrees. The next two years Aquinas qualified as a Tier Two College and placed 12 and 14, for 2003 and 2004 respectively. In 2005 rankings, USN&WR consolidated Tier One and Tier Two Colleges into a new category, Top Tier Colleges. From 2005 on Aquinas ranked seventh, second in 2006, no ranking in 2007, twelfth in 2008 and thirteenth in 2009.

From 2005 rankings to present, Aquinas has also ranked in the “Best Universities - Masters” in the Midwest. Beginning in 2005 at 48, Aquinas continued to rank as 46 in 2006, 47 in 2007, 56 in 2008 and 55 in 2009.

These rankings supplement college visits and personal research for countless high school seniors across the country. The value in such an objective ranking is not found in an exhaustive view of all aspects of a given college or university. Rather, these ranking form a strong foundation or jump-off point for any college search.

Aquinas’s thirteen of fifteen Best Value ranking among Colleges with Masters Programs for this year’s rankings shows some interesting statistics in relation to the others ranked. Aquinas discounts 51% from the total cost and gives need-based grants to 76% of students. The top ranked university in this category discounts 46% from total cost and gives need-based grants to 47%. Only one university ranked above Aquinas College had a higher average discount from total cost. Three universities ranked above Aquinas gave a higher percent of need-based grants.

These rankings are determined by three variables - ratio of academic excellence ranking to discounted price (60%), percent of undergraduate students receiving need-based grants (25%), and average discount (15%).

These facts suggest that Aquinas’ Best Value ranking among Colleges with Masters Programs may be caused by generously discounted costs and a high percent of need-based grants rather than an exceptional ranking in areas of academic excellence.

Ranking 55 out of 67 Midwest Universities with Masters Programs, Aquinas shares its ranking with Lawrence Technological University, Eastern Illinois University, and Alverno College.

Notwithstanding the lack of a clear trend in either direction within the rankings through the past eight years, Aquinas College’s consistent presence in the popular publication in the very least attests to its strong orientation towards the future.