BW is up two notches to number six on the list of best colleges in the 12-state Midwest region and earned a number of other accolades, including a No. 1 ranking for serving veterans.
For the 30th straight year, Baldwin Wallace University again achieved high marks in U.S. News and World Report’s 2024 "U.S. News Best Colleges" survey.
BW is up two more spots to number six among Best Midwest Regional Colleges this year, with the University listed as one of the leading regional universities on a range of other important measures as well.
No. 1 for veterans
BW’s stand-out showing includes a No. 1 ranking on the Midwest Regional “Best Colleges for Veterans” list.
“It’s gratifying that our efforts to go the extra mile to support our military students and families are getting noticed,” said Michael Brown ’18, a BW graduate, veteran and manager of BW veteran and military services.
“As one of the first colleges in Ohio to earn the state’s new Collegiate Purple Star award and regular recipient of GI Jobs Magazine’s Gold Military Friendly recognition, this rise to the top of this U.S. News list both validates our work and inspires us to keep working hard for military student success.”
Tops for teaching, innovation and more
In addition to topping the veterans list and notching a top six overall ranking, BW is on the short list of the very best schools in the following categories:
- Best Undergraduate Teaching
- Most Innovative Schools
- Social Mobility
- Best Value
"Teaching and innovation go hand in hand for our faculty," said BW President Bob Helmer. "Our professors consistently break new ground in and out of the classroom, creating programs and experiences for our students that prepare them for careers in the ever-changing world we live in. They are a truly exceptional group of teachers and mentors who have earned this recognition."
Emphasizing outcomes and value
The value and social mobility rankings also matter for students looking for the best return on investment from their education. In fact, U.S. News changed its methodology this year to place greater emphasis on outcomes and reward schools for success in graduating students from different backgrounds.
"Best for Social Mobility" reflects BW's success in graduating and improving the lives of first-generation and underserved college students who receive federal Pell Grant support. "Best Value" reflects both the quality of a BW education and the generous scholarships and financial support that create affordable excellence and access for students from all backgrounds.
In explaining the importance of its best value rankings, U.S. News editors noted, “You wouldn't buy a computer, cellphone or car without making sure it was the best you could afford, given your budget.” They also explained that need-based financial aid and merit-based scholarships can make the cost “far less than the sticker price.”
Choosing a best-fit college
The latest edition of the U.S. News rankings assessed 1,800 U.S. bachelor's degree-granting institutions “using a wide range of data sources” to produce curated lists “with the intent of enabling students and their families to identify colleges that best meet their needs.”
U.S. News also cites data confirming the overall value of higher education, explaining that “workers with bachelor's degrees had 68% more weekly income than those with just a high school diploma” and "the higher the level of education achieved, the lower the unemployment rate.”
BW’s performance in quality, affordability and student outcomes also recently landed the University among Money’s 2023 Best Colleges. BW also appears on a variety of other best lists, including Forbes, The Princeton Review and Wall St. Journal/Times college rankings.
