Adrian College, Siena Heights University ranked by U.S. News & World Report

ADRIAN — U.S. News & World Report has once again released rankings of institutions of higher learning across the country. And, once again, two of Lenawee County’s schools have been recognized.

Adrian College is ranked No. 2 in the Most Innovative Schools and Best Colleges for Veterans categories for regional colleges in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report in its 2023-24 rankings and is also listed at No. 3 in Undergraduate Teaching.

Siena Heights University, meanwhile, was recognized as a top performer in the regional Midwest for social mobility by U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.

U.S. News publishes the Best Colleges rankings each year to provide prospective students and their families with helpful data and information on factors such as graduation rates, social mobility and graduate indebtedness.

Here are some details regarding each school’s recognition:

Adrian College

U.S. News & World Report also ranked Adrian College No. 23 in First-Year Experience and 29th for the best “Regional Colleges, Midwest” category, making this the 10th consecutive year the college has been featured by the media company.

“We have spent a great deal of time recently developing our reserve officers training core (ROTC) program on campus and, of course, we always do what we can to help veterans to enroll, so it is very gratifying to be recognized as a best college for veterans this year,”

Frank Hribar, Adrian College vice president of enrollment and student affairs, said AC has spent a great deal of time developing its Reserve Officers' Training Corps program. Also, "we always do what we can to help veterans to enroll, so it is very gratifying to be recognized as a best college for veterans this year.”

“It is also exciting that Adrian College has continued to maintain its ranking as a most innovative school and has moved up to number three in the Midwest for undergraduate teaching,” Hribar said in the release.

The Most Innovative Schools designation recognizes colleges and universities that are making the most innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, students, campus life, technology or facilities.

AC currently offers 71 undergraduate programs, 13 graduate programs, six pre-professional programs and 62 minors and certificates, with a 1-to-15 faculty to student ratio. Adrian College has 50 sports teams and has 10 institutes dedicated to “a diverse and personalized approach to education,” the release said.

“These rankings reflect our ongoing efforts to provide an exceptional college experience, and they serve as motivation to continue striving for excellence in all aspects of our institution,” AC President Jeffrey Docking said in the release. “We remain committed to our mission of empowering our students to excel academically, personally and professionally and will continue to work tirelessly to create an inclusive, innovative and supportive community for all.”

Siena Heights University

Of the more than 1,700 students enrolled at Siena Heights University, approximately 35% received a Pell Grant for the fall 2023 semester, the university reported.

Pell Grants are awarded to students who might be considered economically disadvantaged. The grants allow them to overcome the hurdle of funding for college. Some institutions are more successful than others in advancing social mobility, SHU said.

Out of 164 colleges and universities ranked for social mobility, Siena Heights was tied with a ranking of 28, increasing its position from last year’s ranking of 61. Of the institutions listed in the state of Michigan for social mobility, SHU placed fourth.

The overall rankings from U.S. News & World Report assessed more than 1,500 U.S. bachelor’s degree-granting institutions on various metrics, which were modified in preparation for this year’s rankings. To place more emphasis on social mobility and outcomes, factors such as first-generation graduation rates and performance, as well as the proportion of college graduates earning more than a high school graduate, were included in the methodology.

Other factors used to determine the rankings include undergraduate academic reputation, faculty resources, graduation rates, first-year retention rates and others.

“Siena Heights University’s latest ranking is a direct reflection of our ability to meet financial needs. It is a testament to our commitment to providing all students with the opportunity to succeed,” said new Siena Heights University President Douglas Palmer. "We are proud to be a place where students from all backgrounds can come together to learn and grow, and where they can achieve their academic and personal goals.”

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Siena Heights University is a Catholic university founded and sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters. It is headquartered in Adrian with degree completion centers in Battle Creek, Benton Harbor, Dearborn, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing and Monroe.

To see how each college compares to other institutions and how the rankings are calculated, visit www.USNews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Adrian College, Siena Heights University ranked by U.S. News