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September 14, 2020 | By Cole Hatcher

U.S. News & World Report includes Ohio Wesleyan among its 2021 rankings of ‘Best National Liberal Arts Colleges,’ ‘Best Value Schools,’ and ‘Top Performers on Social Mobility.’ OWU also is featured on the magazine’s list of ‘A+ Schools for B Students.’ (Photo by Paul Vernon)

‘2021 Best Colleges’

Ohio Wesleyan Featured in Newly Released U.S. News & World Report Rankings

DELAWARE, Ohio – U.S. News & World Report continues to rank Ohio Wesleyan University among the nation’s “Best Liberal Arts Colleges” and among its 2021 “Best Value Schools” and “Top Schools on Social Mobility.”

According to the magazine’s list of “2021 Best Colleges,” released today, Ohio Wesleyan is ranked at:

  • 93 among the nation’s “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges.” According to U.S. News, its new rankings assess 1,452 U.S. bachelor’s degree-granting institutions on 17 measures of academic quality to determine the rankings of the “best.”
  • 50 among the National Liberal Arts “Best Value Schools,” up eight spots over last year. These rankings “place significant emphasis on affordability for students who may be eligible for need-based aid,” including recognition for schools that provide much of this aid as grants and scholarships.
  • 63 among the National Liberal Arts “Top Schools on Social Mobility,” up 69 spots from 2020. This ranking is determined by the success of colleges in “enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded federal Pell Grants.” OWU’s rankings place the university at No. 1 in Ohio for both “Best Value Schools” and “Top Performers on Social Mobility.”
  • One of the nation’s “A+ Schools for B Students.” (This alphabetical list does not include rankings.)

According to U.S. News, 80% of its 2021 “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” ranking is based on academic quality, including a school’s graduation rates, social mobility, graduate indebtedness, faculty information, and admission data. The remaining 20% is based on academic reputation, largely determined by an assessment from top academics at peer colleges.

“It is an honor to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of its Best Colleges,” said Stefanie Niles, Ohio Wesleyan’s vice president for enrollment and communications. “The recognition is important in that it acknowledges the caliber of education we provide and the outcomes our graduates achieve. As always, we recommend that prospective students and families consider rankings as one of many data points available to them, but also visit Ohio Wesleyan and other schools to find the best fit.”

Learn more about the 2021 U.S. News rankings at www.usnews.com/colleges. Learn more about Ohio Wesleyan, including enrollment information, ratings and rankings, and graduate outcomes at owu.edu/admission.

Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 90 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through Ohio Wesleyan’s signature OWU Connection program, students integrate knowledge across disciplines, build a diverse and global perspective, and apply their knowledge in real-world settings. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives” and included in the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “best colleges” lists. Learn more at owu.edu.