Hiram is ranked fourth among Bachelor’s Colleges across entire United States
The 2019 edition of Washington Monthly’s College Guide and Rankings has listed Hiram College as number four in the country among colleges and universities that award bachelor’s degrees almost exclusively. Hiram College is the only Ohio college in the top ten of this category, and it is noted for academic excellence and social responsibility. 
The Monthly’s rankings “call attention to colleges that serve the best interests of the country as a whole—including by enrolling and graduating students of modest means,” Kevin Carey, guest editor of the Monthly’s College Guide. Such service has long been a part of Hiram’s mission and the model for New Liberal Arts™ that the college just rolled out last year.
“Hiram’s New Liberal Arts™ has been designed to make a top-notch liberal arts education real, relevant and accessible to students from all types of backgrounds,” says Lori Varlotta, Ph.D., president of Hiram College. “Though early in its implementation phase, the model’s new academic majors, its required internships and research projects, and its state-of-the-art mobile technology program have been well received by new and continuing students alike,” she adds. “Earning a top place in the Washington Monthly’s ranking system is a validation that we have created an enriched educational experience that produces excellent outcomes for our students.”
Washington Monthly has ranked four-year institutions based on their contribution to the public good since 2005. Rankings consist of three equally weighted portions: social mobility, research, and promoting public service. To be considered a top-ranked institution, colleges must be excellent across all measures rather than excelling in just one. The editorial staff of Washington Monthly explain that an average of the three most recent years of data across all measures is used to establish a clear picture of an institution’s performance. This eliminates anomalies and “statistical noise,” they add.
The Washington Monthly rankings differ substantially from other ranking systems that reward institutions for prestige, wealth, and exclusivity. “Washington Monthly’s rankings use independent, objective data to identify schools that are serving their students, their communities, and society well,” says Laura Van Wormer, Ph.D., director of institutional research at Hiram College. “Hiram’s history of creativity in education rooted in the liberal arts and the success of its students after graduating make it a natural fit near the very top of this national list of bachelors-granting institutions. We are gratified by this recognition and affirm our commitment to helping students prosper and succeed.”
Hiram College is also recognized as a College of Distinction by Colleges of Distinction for its high-impact education practices, highly-engaged students, quality education, vibrant community, and successful outcomes.
About Hiram College:
Founded in 1850, Hiram College continues today as one of the nation’s most respected liberal arts institutions. Located in Ohio’s Western Reserve, Hiram has long been committed to educational excellence, helping students develop a 21st-century skill set and mindset that will allow them to thrive in their personal lives, at a time when at a time when societal changes are constant and complex. The College’s New Liberal Arts™ prepares students to answer tough questions, solve complex problems, and communicate their ideas through a broad, interdisciplinary curriculum. Recognized by Colleges of Distinction and The Princeton Review, Hiram enrolls approximately 1,000 students in its traditional program and about 200 adult learners in its Weekend College and Professional and Graduate Studies programs. For more information, please visit www.hiram.edu.
