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Sept. 23, 2013 – Allegheny College has been named among the top colleges and universities in the nation, in the 2013-14 edition of “The Alumni Factor,” a college guidebook that is based on the real-world experiences and successes of graduates. Allegheny places 51st among liberal arts colleges in the nation and 107th compared to all schools. The college ranks 24th among liberal arts colleges when measured by how happy graduates report being, overall, in their lives today.

The rankings, which are based on alumni feedback gathered independently from the colleges that are evaluated, place Allegheny in the top 7 percent of all colleges and universities in the United States.

“The Alumni Factor” looks at 16 key measures based on surveys from graduates: intellectual development, social development, spiritual development, friendship development, preparation for career success, immediate job opportunities, whether graduates would choose the college or university again, 
whether they would recommend it to a student, value for the money, overall happiness, alumni giving and graduation rate. The rankings also reflect the financial success of graduates, including as key factors income per household, percentage of households with income over $150,000, household net worth and percentage of households with net worth over $1 million.

In addition to the overall happiness ranking, Allegheny had particularly strong showings in social development (25th among liberal arts colleges), spiritual development (28th) and intellectual development (41st). The survey also showed that Allegheny graduates are well prepared for their professional life (39th in immediate job opportunities) and financial success (40th).

The Alumni Factor rankings are the latest in a number of accolades for the college.

• For the second year in a row, Allegheny College is one of only 10 schools in its category recognized by U.S. News and World Report as an “Up-and-Comer.”

• In August Allegheny jumped 17 spots to number 24 in the Best Liberal Arts Colleges category of the 2013 Washington Monthly college rankings.

• Newsweek/Daily Beast listed Allegheny as the 20th “most rigorous” nationally, ranked between Duke and Harvard.

• Allegheny ranks 23rd nationally in Peace Corps placement among small colleges.

• Hillel’s Foundation for Jewish Campus Life named Allegheny as one of 20 “small and mighty campuses of excellence” in its newly updated college guide.

• Allegheny is also among the 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential “Colleges That Change Lives.”

The college has taken national leadership roles both in sustainability – the Princeton Review and other guides list it as one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the country – and in the national conversation on civility. The Allegheny College Prize for Civility in Public Life, awarded annually at the National Press Club, has put Allegheny at the forefront of the national debate to enhance civility in U.S. politics.

The 32nd oldest college in the country, Allegheny College will celebrate its bicentennial in 2015.