When Money magazine released their 2023 Best Colleges guide last week, it debuted a new system with star ratings focused on affordability and outcomes — and Linfield University was one of only two colleges in Oregon that received 4.5 or higher stars.
To even qualify for a rating, universities had to be above the national average in graduation rates, offer sufficient and reliable data and not be in financial distress.
As one of Oregon’s top schools, Linfield is in the company of institutions like Carnegie Mellon, University of Southern California, Vanderbilt, University of Texas-Austin, Emory, Barnard, Michigan State, Middlebury, Wellesley and Wesleyan, to name a few.
“Outside experts said the Money formula appears to try to capture qualities and outcomes that matter the most to low- and middle-income students and families, like graduation rates, adjusted for institution type, and employment,” Francie Diep wrote in the Chronicle of Higher Education on June 22. “Experts also pointed out that Money’s ratings may be more difficult to game. Their inputs are either not reported by the colleges themselves, or are reported by colleges to the federal government, which might deter them from submitting sloppy or falsified numbers.”
University President Miles K. Davis said the rating’s emphasis on social mobility makes it an especially welcome recognition.
“The decision to pursue a college education is an enormous investment for families, particularly for low-income and first-generation students, and we take that commitment very seriously,” he said, adding that the ranking directly addresses real and reasonable questions families have as they approach the college admission process.
“There are so many reasons students come to Linfield: our size means every student is personally known, mentored and supported. They come to excel on the field, in the arts and in the community through experiential learning,” he said. “But there is also the practical reality that we are here to serve as an engine of social and economic mobility, and our graduates can and do change the economic conditions of their entire family with a Linfield degree.”
(Related: U.S. News & World Report ranks Linfield No. 1 in Oregon for social mobility; Linfield graduates have highest median earning of any Oregon college or university)
Davis hailed the work spearheaded by Gerardo Ochoa, vice president for enrollment management and student success, that over the past four years has grown Linfield’s percentage of first-generation students to around half of all incoming undergraduate students, as recently highlighted by OPB.
“Gerardo, his team and colleagues not only connect with students who may not have seen themselves at a private four-year liberal arts institution, but then ensure their success with an award-winning program that has closed the graduation gap between first- and continuing-generation students,” he said.
Ochoa shared Davis’ assessment, saying that particularly for students and families new to higher education, it’s crucial to discuss not only the opportunities for knowledge and growth that the college experience provides, but also what happens after a student walks across the stage.
“Families historically excluded from higher education are understandably very cautious about taking on debt, particularly communities preyed upon by lenders, where you will understandably find aversion to debt,” he said. “To serve our New Majority Students (Pell-eligible, first-generation, students of color and transfer students) our financial aid packages are among, if not the, most generous in Oregon. We aim to hold costs down to be on-par with in-state costs at public institutions.”
The ranking underscores what Ochoa tells prospective students and their families: “Not only is a Linfield education around the same cost as public institutions, but it also opens avenues to careers, to success, that change circumstances and material conditions for the entire community around that student.”
Money’s rating is based on quality of education (30%), affordability (40%) and graduate outcomes (30%). Read more about the full methodology on the Money magazine website. For more information on Linfield’s ratings and rankings, go to linfield.edu/rankings.
Oregon universities by rank:
Linfield University: 4.5 stars
University of Portland: 4.5 stars
University of Oregon: 4 stars
Oregon State University: 4 stars
Portland State University: 4 stars
George Fox University: 4 stars
Pacific University: 4 stars
Lewis & Clark College: 3.5 stars
Willamette University: 3.5 stars
Reed College: 3 stars
Not ranked:
American College of Healthcare Sciences
Bushnell University
Corban University
Eastern Oregon University
Multnomah University
Oregon College of Oriental Medicine
Oregon Health & Sciences University
Oregon Institute of Technology
National University of Natural Medicine
University of Western States
Warner Pacific University
Western Oregon University
