For the tenth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has named Houghton University a Best National Liberal Arts College. Houghton rose to 124 among 233 national liberal arts colleges, up 12 points from last year.

Houghton ranked third in the nation among liberal arts colleges for social mobility, a new category which assesses how successful a school is at enrolling and graduating students who come from lower-income families. The ranking is determined by the number of enrolled and graduated students who receive Pell Grants, a form of need-based federal financial aid. Cornell College (Mount Vernon, IA) and Agnes Scott College (Decatur, GA) are the only liberal arts colleges in U.S. to outrank Houghton on this metric.

“Willard J. Houghton founded Houghton in 1883 to provide high quality education for economically disadvantaged young people,” said Shirley Mullen, President of Houghton University. “We have remained true to that mission! Mr. Houghton would share our deep satisfaction at this recognition.”

As with last year, Houghton is the only liberal arts institution belonging to the Western New York Consortium of Higher Education to make the list. Houghton appeared third after Wheaton and Westmont among institutions of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” Rankings

The Best Colleges rankings aim to provide a holistic assessment of a school’s quality and value.  It assesses factors such as retention and graduation rate, faculty resources, social mobility, and overall academic reputation. U.S. News & World Report evaluates each school using statistical data (class size, standardized test scores of admitted students, alumni giving rates, etc.) as well as peer review from presidents and provosts of peer institutions.

U.S. News & World Report is a publisher of consumer-oriented journalism and resources. They compiled their first national college ranking in 1983, and have been publishing rankings yearly since 1987.