Campus News

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CREATING A LEGACY

Twenty-one students were welcomed into the Legacy Family this fall, entering into a longstanding and proud tradition at Westminster. Pictured above are this year’s new Legacy students and their alumni family members. Also pictured at right, holding Westminster throws, are Legacy students Conner Dale and Sarah Douds. Connor, part of the McGill family, has a 30-person line of Westminster College graduates in his family, while Sarah takes second place with 18 family members. To view individual family photos, please visit www.westminster.edu/legacypics

Annual Rankings

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT Westminster College is again among the top best national liberal arts colleges in the nation according to the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings. Climbing six spots, Westminster placed No. 114 in the National Liberal Arts Colleges category. Westminster was also ranked in the No. 19 slot in its new “Social Mobility” list, which measures how well schools graduate students who receive federal Pell Grants. In 2018, 54% of Pell recipients graduated in four years, and in 2019, 57% graduated. Westminster’s overall four-year graduation rate for all students is 68%, with a six-year graduation rate of 73%. WSJ/TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION Westminster continues to be ranked as one of the best colleges nationwide, according to the Wall Street Journal/ Times Higher Education (WSJ/THE) College Rankings 2020. Westminster, which has been listed annually since the ranking’s 2016 inception, placed at 281 among the 986 U.S. colleges and universities recognized. Of the four key areas examined—resources, engagement, outcomes and environment—Westminster scored the strongest in the resources pillar, which represents 30% of the overall ranking. In this category, in WSJ/THE rated Westminster’s capacity to effectively deliver teaching by examining costs per student, student-to-faculty ratio and the number of academic research papers published by faculty members. MONEY MAGAZINE Westminster was named to Money magazine’s “2019 Best Colleges for Your Money” list based on quality of education, affordability and alumni financial success. This year’s placement ranks Westminster above some Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education favorites and many other Pennsylvania private colleges as well, confirming that Westminster is one of the best value colleges in higher education. Money’s rankings for the 744 eligible colleges and universities were based on the quality of education, affordability during college and student debt payoff rates after graduation, and alumni outcomes—all of which are critical conditions students evaluate before selecting a college.