Dordt named a top school on “Hidden Gem Colleges in the Plains Region” list

Dordt University has been named a top school on the “Hidden Gem Colleges in the Plains Region” list, according to the 2023 College Raptor Rankings.

The “Hidden Gem Colleges in the Plains Region” list looks at schools “that deserve more attention,” according to College Raptor.

Dordt placed second out of three Iowa schools on the list, with Luther College in Decorah taking first and Northwestern College in Orange City placing third. Other Midwest colleges and universities that made the list include Truman State University (Missouri), Concordia University (Nebraska), and Augustana University (South Dakota).

Director of Admissions Greg Van Dyke says that, when students and their parents visit campus, he and the admissions staff typically ask if they have been to Dordt’s campus before.

“Surprisingly, about half of the students who visit have never been here; they found us online or met a Dordt admissions counselor at a college fair,” says Van Dyke. “I always love it when at the end of the visit we ask them what they think, and they typically share that they were pleasantly surprised by the beautiful campus and welcoming atmosphere.”

Van Dyke says that the Dordt admissions team would love to “pleasantly surprise” more students looking for a vibrant, Christ-centered education.

“We appreciate being a ‘hidden gem’ but would like to be a ‘well-known gem’ that is doing good work for God’s kingdom,” says Van Dyke.

According to College Raptor’s methodology, colleges are ranked based on a combination of factors, including graduation rates, campus diversity, endowment per student, and other data as reported via the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the most recently available enrollment year.

About Dordt University

As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.