Benedict Ranked Among Best Baccalaureate Colleges

For the fifth consecutive year, Benedict College has been ranked as one of the nation’s best Baccalaureate Institutions by Washington Monthly magazine in its September/October issue. This year, Benedict College is ranked No. 16 in the listing. The rankings are based on three broad categories: “social mobility” (recruiting and graduating low-income students); “research” (producing cutting-edge scholarship and Ph.Ds); and “service” (encouraging students to give something back to their country).

“It is a great honor to be recognized once again by Washington Monthly as the top institution in the nation for contributing to the public good,” said Dr. David H. Swinton, President and CEO of Benedict College. “This is an extraordinary accomplishment, as the criteria for this ranking exemplify our core values and our vision to be a student-centered, research-focused, service-oriented public college that offers opportunity for all. The commitment of our students, faculty and staff to serve others and impact the world for good is amazing. We are working hard to produce a high quality, motivating academic environment at Benedict that also persuades students to be engaged and creative citizens. To be ranked among the Top 50 five years in a row demonstrates that our mission for excellence is bearing fruit.”

Among the factors figuring into the Washington Monthly rankings are the number of bachelor’s degree recipients who go on to earn doctoral degrees or serve in the Peace Corps; the number of students who participate in community service and the staff support those efforts receive; the percentage of federal work-study funds that goes to community service; the percentage of students receiving Pell Grants; and the predicted and actual graduation rates based on percentage of Pell recipients.

The 2015 Washington Monthly College Rankings is available online at www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/.

About Benedict College

Founded in 1870, Benedict College is a private, co-educational liberal arts institution and currently has over 2,200 students enrolled in baccalaureate degree programs. Dr. David H. Swinton is the thirteenth president of Benedict College. Since Dr. Swinton’s appointment in 1994, the College has experienced a dramatic increase in its enrollment, particularly among male students. As a result of this tremendous growth, Benedict has the second largest undergraduate population of the 20 private institutions in South Carolina, and has become the third largest college in The College Fund/UNCF network. Benedict has over 15,000 alumni throughout South Carolina and the United States. The College has been “a power for good” in the community for 145 years and is a major economic contributor to the region and South Carolina, with a local annual economic impact of over $106.7 million.

Source: Benedict College