Dordt University ranked a top Midwest Regional University, according to U.S. News & World Report

Dordt University is ranked number eight on the “Regional Universities (Midwest)” ranking released today by 2023-24 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges and is the top-ranked school in Iowa in the category. Dordt moved up in the ranking since the 2022-23 list, which previously ranked Dordt at number nine.

Out of 164 institutions on the “Regional Universities (Midwest)” ranking, Dordt is joined by regional schools such as Augustana University in Sioux Falls (tied no. 17) and the University of Northern Iowa (tied no. 11). Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) institutions include Northwestern College (tied no. 43) and Morningside University (tied no. 95).

“When other people notice the good work of our faculty and staff here at Dordt, it’s certainly heartening,” says Dordt president, Dr. Erik Hoekstra. “To once again be a “Top 10” school according to U.S. News is terrific—but external accolades will never be our benchmark. Our goal is to ready our students to be effective kingdom citizens—which demands that we not only have all the marks of quality that these ranking agencies look for but also that we center the name of Jesus in every activity of our campus. To show that we can be Biblically faithful and academically excellent is precisely the point. We believe that striving for excellence is one way to honor Christ.”

Dordt ranks second among institutions representing the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, with Calvin University (no. 4), Indiana Wesleyan University (tied no. 13), Huntington University (tied no. 29), and North Park University (tied no. 29).

According to U.S. News and World Report, the ranking factors in key measures such as graduation rates, retention, student-to-faculty ratio, and class size, in addition to a peer assessment survey to determine the institution's reputation among other schools.

Dordt also tied at number six for “Most Innovative among Regional Universities (Midwest),” which according to the methodology, is determined by a peer assessment survey sent to college administrators, and looks at areas such as “improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology, or facilities.”

Dordt continuously seeks to add innovative programs, such as its new Agriculture Service Technology program launching in fall 2024 that partners with AgriVision Equipment, a local farm implement group, to provide students the opportunity to become certified John Deere Technicians.

“Dordt is committed to applying an unchanging Christian worldview to an ever-changing job market,” says Eric Tudor, director of emerging markets. “We are keenly committed to closing regional and global skills gaps by aligning student interests and career outcomes; we believe this is paramount to our mission of equipping students for effective kingdom service.”

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

• No. 10 (tied) – “Undergraduate Teaching Programs (Regional Universities – Midwest).” The methodology shares that it is determined through a peer assessment survey sent to college presidents, provosts, and admissions deans.
• No. 14 – “Best Value Schools (Regional Universities – Midwest),” which considers “academic quality and cost after accounting for total expenses and financial aid,” according to U.S. News & World Report methodology.
• No. 20 (tied) – “Top Performers on Social Mobility (Regional Universities – Midwest)”
• No. 86 – “Undergraduate Engineering Programs (no doctorate) (Regional Universities – Midwest).” U.S. News & World Report released a new additional ranking affiliated with this that looked at specializations within engineering. Dordt tied for number 23 for “Mechanical (Regional Universities – Midwest),” based on peer assessment surveys that allowed respondents to submit nominations for each specialty.

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, as it provides a data-driven look at indicators such as freshmen 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.