Wall Street Journal: College of Idaho tops state’s rankings

The Wall Street Journal’s fourth annual college rankings are in, and The College of Idaho was the state’s highest-ranked school.

The Caldwell college ranked No. 360 nationally, up from No. 383 a year ago. It’s the third straight year the C of I was Idaho’s highest-ranked college.

“Affirmation of the world-class education provided at The College of Idaho is evidenced by our largest incoming class ever, with the highest academic profile in recent years, a great blend of rural and urban students, more than 80 different countries represented, and about 60 percent of our students coming from right here in Idaho,” C of I co-president Jim Everett said in a news release.

The Wall Street Journal grades schools on four criteria: outcomes, such as graduates’ salary and debt burden, worth 40 percent; resources, representing spending on instruction and student services, worth 30 percent; engagement, such as student-faculty interaction, worth 20 percent; and campus diversity, worth 10 percent.

Idaho’s three public universities did not get a specific ranking. The University of Idaho was ranked between No. 401 and 500, Idaho State University was ranked between No. 501 and 600; and Boise State University was ranked lower than No. 600.

The Wall Street Journal ranked 801 colleges and universities across the country. Harvard University topped the national rankings.

(Click here for the Wall Street Journal article and the searchable rankings. Both require a subscription.)

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 35 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. He can be reached at [email protected]

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