Dordt University is a top Midwest regional university, says U.S. News & World Report

Dordt University is the highest-ranked university in Iowa, according to the “Regional Universities (Midwest)” ranking released today by 2022-23 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges.

Out of 166 institutions included in the “Regional Universities (Midwest)” ranking, Dordt tied for ninth with Augustana University (South Dakota) and Otterbein University (Ohio). Dordt is ahead of Iowa institutions such as University of Northern Iowa (tied No. 17) and Northwestern College (tied No. 26). Dordt is second among institutions in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, including Calvin University (No. 4), Cedarville University (tied No. 15), and University of Northwestern-St. Paul (tied No. 39). Dordt is the highest-ranked institution within the Great Plains Athletic Conference as well.

This is Dordt’s first year on the “Regional Universities (Midwest)” ranking, as the institution was previously listed as part of “Regional Colleges (Midwest).”

“With the growth of our graduate programs, we’ve moved from ‘regional colleges’ to ‘regional universities’ this year, but to remain in the top 10 overall is really a tribute to our people,” says Dr. Erik Hoekstra, president of Dordt University. “When I talk with our students and recent alumni, I regularly hear anecdotes about the positive impact of Dordt on their lives, and the stories always start with a person—whether that’s a faculty member, a staff member, or a Dordt supporter. Thus, these rankings which measure how Dordt stacks up to so many other institutions are certainly encouraging, but it all happens because our people love Jesus. One way we live out our love for Jesus is to do our work with excellence—and to have an organization like U.S. News & World Report validate the excellence we all strive for at Dordt is truly gratifying.”

Dordt tied for third for “Most Innovative among Regional Universities (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.”

“Dordt continues to fuel innovation through networks and partnerships as our students, faculty, and staff deliberately connect with networks and partners to deepen our shared kingdom impact,” says Brandon Huisman, vice president for enrollment and marketing.

Tied for fourth for “Best Undergraduate Teaching among Regional Universities (Midwest),” Dordt is known for being an institution where “faculty and administrators are committed to teaching undergraduate students in a high-quality manner,” says the U.S. News & World Report methodology.

In addition, Dordt was included on the following U.S. News & World Report rankings:

• No. 24 – “Best Value Schools (Regional Universities—Midwest),” which includes institutions that provide the best value for students based on academic quality and college costs
• No. 51 – “Social Mobility among Regional Universities (Midwest),” which highlights “colleges [that] are more successful than others at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students”
• “A+ Schools for B Students (Regional Universities),” where “if you’re a good student with less-than-stellar test scores or a so-so GPA, these are the schools for you”

Dordt’s engineering program was listed as a top program within the “Undergraduate Engineering Programs (No Doctorate)” list as well.

“There’s a number of quality institutions in our region, and we measure up well, according to the U.S. News & World Report data,” says Jim Bos, registrar and director of institutional research at Dordt. “In Iowa, I think we’re one of the shining stars that is doing good things for higher education.”

Director of Admissions Greg Van Dyke says that it’s exciting to see Dordt listed as a top Midwestern university.

“Rankings are important, but our mission is what’s at the heart of this institution,” he says. “Dordt is experiencing record enrollment again this year, which shows students feel welcomed here and are opting into this Christ-centered environment.”

U.S. News & 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 & World Report rankings can be found online at usnews.com.

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 the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.