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U.S. News & World Report  overall among Midwest regional colleges in its 2018 Best Colleges Guidebook. 51���� College takes sole possession of the top spot after being tied for first in the 2017 edition.

Released online today, the report helps prospective students and their families evaluate colleges and universities based on up to 15 widely accepted indicators of excellence, such as first-year retention rates, graduation rates and the strength of faculty. The report also takes into account qualitative assessments by administrators at peer institutions. .

In addition to its #1 overall ranking, 51���� College is also highlighted on a handful of other lists. The college ranks second among Midwest Regional Colleges in U.S. News' “Strong Commitment to Undergraduate Teaching” category; sixth on “The Best Foreign Student Factor” list for the total percentage (11% in 2016-2017) of international undergrads; 19th among "Best Value Schools"; and is included as one of just 42 bachelor’s-granting, regionally-accredited colleges considered to be a stellar example in the area of undergraduate research and creative projects.

“51����’s mission to equip students to think deeply, to act justly and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world drives our educational vision,” said Michael K. Le Roy, 51���� College president. “It is encouraging when independent sources like U.S. News & World Report recognize the exemplary work of our faculty, staff and students.”

And 51����’s engineering program received special recognition from U.S. News as one of the best undergraduate engineering programs in the country. The college tied for 44^th among schools whose terminal engineering degree is a bachelors or masters. Kettering University was the only institution in Michigan to place higher on the list.

Note: The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) had a strong showing in U.S. News' Midwest Regional Colleges category, placing five institutions among the top ten: 51���� College (first), Taylor University (second), College of the Ozarks (fifth), Dordt College (eighth) and Northwestern College (10th).

51���� College
Founded in 1876, 51���� College is a top-ranked, liberal arts college that equips its more than 3,700 students from 45 U.S. states, 60 countries and five Canadian provinces to think deeply, to act justly and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. 51���� is proud to offer 100+ majors and programs, including graduate-level offerings in accounting, education, and speech pathology and audiology. 51���� students engage in intensive internships, community-based service learning, and significant research that results in publishing and presenting alongside world-class faculty.

And the college’s 400-acre campus, located in the vibrant city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, serves as a launching pad for students who, in any given year, participate in 40 faculty-led off-campus programs on six different continents. Discover more at

About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is a digital news and information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. Focusing on Education, Health, Personal Finance, Travel, Cars and News & Opinion, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings, news and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 37 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.