Dordt Ranked Fifth Best Regional Midwest College by U.S. News and World Report

Dordt University has been ranked the fifth best regional Midwest college, according to the 2022 U.S. News and World Report rankings. This ranking takes into account a variety of factors, including graduation and retention rates, undergraduate academic reputation, social mobility, alumni giving, and more.

“College rankings aren’t our goal—our goal is to be faithful to our mission of developing effective kingdom citizens for Christ. As we strive towards that goal, we certainly take some encouragement when external parties like U.S. News and World Report recognize our efforts,” says Dordt President Dr. Erik Hoekstra. “To be again ranked in the top five overall in the Midwest is wonderful, but I’m most encouraged that these rankings are acknowledging specifics about Dordt including our number one ranking for ‘Best Undergraduate Teaching’ and our top-three ranking as an innovative school. Those really speak to the uniqueness of what we do—how we focus on our students first—and that our campus is filled with creative leaders who constantly push to continuously improve in creative ways to keep advancing Dordt for Christ’s purposes.”

Ranked the number one school for “Best Undergraduate Teaching (Regional Colleges Midwest)” Dordt is a school where “faculty and administrators are committed to teaching undergraduate students in a high-quality manner,” as stated in the U.S. News and World Report methodology.

“Given the challenges that Covid-19 presented our campus community over the last year and a half, it is especially encouraging that our faculty are being recognized for teaching excellence,” says Dr. Teresa Ter Haar, dean of curriculum and instruction as well as a theatre professor. “It reveals the commitment Dordt’s faculty make—and continue to make every day—to connect with students and provide robust learning experiences.”

Dordt tied for third in the “Most Innovative (Regional Colleges Midwest)” ranking, which, according to the methodology, “examines the colleges and universities that are making the most innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology, and facilities.”

Joe Bakker, director of online education, says that Dordt has shown its ability to be innovative by launching new programs such as online dual credit, a Master of Public Administration degree, and technology programs, which Dordt’s open doors to high school students, working adults, and students seeking vocational training.

“Dordt is an innovative school because we are willing to try new things that provide new opportunities for students,” says Bakker. “I believe it is vital for Dordt to innovate constantly to enable the institution to serve Dordt students and the broader community in new ways. Failing to think outside the box quickly leads to a dangerous road of getting stuck in a rut. By consistently seeking new opportunities, Dordt is ensuring that it will continue to serve students well as the needs of post-secondary students seeking a Christ-centered education continue to change.”

Dordt made additional rankings on U.S. News and World Report, including “A+ Schools for B Students (Regional Colleges Midwest)” and “Top Performers on Social Mobility (Regional Colleges).” Dordt ranked 24th on the “Best Value Schools (Regional Colleges)” list, which considers both the academic quality and cost of an institution. Dordt also was included on the list of “Undergraduate Engineering Programs (No Doctorate),” which considers engineering schools whose highest degree is a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

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.