Albion Among Liberal Arts Top 20 in DegreeChoices’ Economic Analysis
More recognition: The Princeton Review again includes Albion as one of the best in the U.S. and Midwest.
August 23, 2022
An Albion College student cycles past Robinson Hall on the campus Quad.
Albion College has been ranked as one of the leading liberal arts colleges in the nation based on economic analysis by DegreeChoices.com.
The recently released rankings place Albion College No. 18 among 2,000 schools across the U.S. It is the only Michigan liberal arts college in the Top 20.
“While economic payoffs are clearly not the only way to evaluate the quality or value of colleges, they are useful because of rising concerns about high costs of a college education,” wrote Michael T. Nietzel, a retired university president who is a consultant for DegreeChoices.com. “As students and families research their college options, financial considerations will be important to most of them. In some instances, it may be the decisive factor.”
The economic score of each school was based on data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Scores were based on the mathematical combination of two outcomes: one, which DegreeChoices calls payback, measures how long it takes students to recoup their educational investment after attending a given school; the other, a proprietary calculation called earningsplus, determines how much more or less students from a particular college earn when compared to the weighted average of students from all colleges in that state. (See DegreeChoices’ methodology page for more details.)
Joe Calvaruso, ’78, interim president of Albion College, said, “With the economy in the state it is in — nearly double-digit inflation, rising interest rates and the supply-chain crisis, nearly every family we talk to is watching its pennies. We work with our students on the investment they are making in their future. Individually, we tailor financial aid packaging and other aid to meet their specific needs.”
Unlike the rankings of U.S. News and World Report, which uses retention, graduation rates, reputation and institutional resources, DegreeChoices.com is based on the economic payoff. Other schools making its list include Claremont McKenna College (No. 1), Davidson College (4), Swarthmore College (11), Hamilton College (12) and Amherst College (14). Rounding out the top 20 are Bowdoin College and Colgate University.
One of the Best of All Sizes
As it has for many years, Albion College also finds itself with a profile in The Princeton Review’s annual guidebook to leading colleges and universities.
This year titled The Best 388 Colleges, Albion is also listed as one of the best Midwestern schools, and its profile includes student comments about everything from admission and academics to campus life and careers.
For more information, visit The Princeton Review website.