Maryville Daily Forum Posted: Wednesday, September 17, 2014 9:51 am | Updated: 11:44 am, Wed Sep 17, 2014.
MARYVILLE, Mo.— Northwest Missouri State University is included on U.S. News and World Report’s list of “2015 Best Colleges” and ranks as the top moderately selective regional university in Missouri.
U.S. News ranked Northwest at No. 80 on its list of “Best Regional Universities” in the Midwest, which includes all public and private universities in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota.
In addition to being ranked as the top moderately selective regional university in the state, Northwest ranked third among Missouri’s public regional universities, trailing only Truman State University and Missouri State University.
When compared to its peers in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association, only the University of Nebraska-Kearney ranks higher than Northwest.
To develop its rankings, U.S. News analyzes data such as freshman retention, graduation rates, class sizes, students’ ACT and SAT scores, financial resources and alumni giving.
According to U.S. News, Northwest scores well with a student-to-faculty ratio of 22-to-1, and 45 percent of classes at Northwest are smaller than 20 students. Northwest’s freshman retention rate of near 70 percent places the university at the top of moderately selective institutions in Missouri and in the 66th percentile of its national peer group.
Northwest is a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university offering a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs.
It boasts a 59.2 percent graduation rate, which is about 20 percent higher than the national average. In addition, 98 percent of Northwest bachelor’s degree earners and 99 percent of master’s degree earners secure employment or continue their education within six months of graduation, according to the most recent data.
Furthermore, its vibrant and diverse learning community offers more than 150 student organizations, and textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, which is among the lowest in the state, saving students an estimated $7,200 over four years. Northwest also offers 1,200 student employment positions, allowing students to build professional skills through its internationally benchmarked student employment program.
Northwest also places a high emphasis on laboratory- and experiential-based learning to help graduates jumpstart their careers.
Students have opportunities to build their resumes with experiences on campus in nearly every area of study, including the Horace Mann Laboratory School, National Public Radio affiliate KXCV, the RT Wright Laboratory Farm, Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area, the internationally ranked Dean L. Hubbard Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship or Knacktive, a student-driven integrated digital marketing communications agency.
Northwest’s enrollment is 6,573 students, as of the first day of classes, a 3.5 percent increase since last fall. That total includes 1,333 first-time freshmen, a 2.9 percent increase from the first day of classes last fall.
Northwest also recorded a 100 percent increase in its enrollment of international students, and graduate school enrollment is up 31 percent this fall.
To view U.S. News’ “2015 Best Colleges,” visit www.usnews.com/education.