Dordt Ranked a Top University in Iowa by U.S. News and World Report

Dordt University has been ranked a top university in Iowa and tied for fourth best regional college in the Midwest, according to the 2021 U.S. News and World Report rankings. This ranking considers a variety of factors, including outcomes, graduation and retention rates, expert opinion, financial resources, alumni giving, and more.

“Every day, Dordt faculty seek to provide our students with an excellent Christ-centered education,” says Dr. Erik Hoekstra, president of Dordt University. “To be named one of the top Midwest universities by U.S. News and World Report is an honor, but the greatest honor is that we get to serve the Lord by educating and equipping our students toward Christ-centered renewal and to serve as effective citizens of Christ’s kingdom.”

Dordt was ranked sixth for the “Top Performers in Social Mobility” list. As explained by U.S. News and World Report, “economically disadvantaged students are less likely than others to finish college, even when controlling for other characteristics.” Dordt and other schools named to the “Top Performers in Social Mobility” list are more successful than others at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants.

In addition, Dordt is considered one of the best value schools in the Midwest. The “Best Value Schools” list takes into account both the academic quality and cost of an institution.

Dordt has also been ranked the best undergraduate-focused engineering program in Iowa, according to U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Engineering Program” list, which considers engineering schools whose highest degree is a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

“I believe a major reason that Dordt provides an excellent education within the engineering program is that our engineering faculty members have a clear sense of their calling, as disciples of Christ, to teach and to make a difference in the lives of students,” says Dr. Justin Vander Werff, chair of the engineering department. “Engineering is primarily about stewarding God’s creation as we show love to our neighbor by meeting the needs we see around us every day, and a Christian community like Dordt provides an amazing place for this work.”

U.S. News and World Report is one of the longest‑running college ranking publications. The list serves as a starting point for students researching colleges, because it provides a data‑driven look at indicators such as freshman retention, graduation rates, and the strength of the faculty. U.S. News and World Report rankings can be found online at usnews.com.

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. Dordt, located in Sioux Center, Iowa, is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by The Wall Street Journal, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.