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Sept. 9, 2015 – In rankings released today, U.S. News & World Report recognizes Allegheny College as one of the twelve most innovative liberal arts colleges in the nation. In addition, Allegheny advanced from #81 last year to #72 this year in the college guide’s rankings of the best national liberal arts colleges.

Colleges listed in the Most Innovative category are identified by college presidents, provosts and admissions deans as having recently made, according to U.S. News, “the most innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities.”

“The college community and I are very excited that Allegheny has been acknowledged as one of the most innovative colleges in the nation,” said James H. Mullen Jr., president of the college. “Chief among these recent innovations is the Allegheny Gateway, our new learning model that provides a central location for study and collaboration in areas, including internships, that prepare students for successful careers, international study and civic engagement. Our students can expand, integrate and apply their learning through the Gateway and access the resources they need to thrive at Allegheny and in their lives after college.”

U.S. News & World Report also lists Allegheny College as an “A+ School for B Students,” a school where good students can expect to succeed even if they enter college without stellar test scores, and as one of the best colleges for veterans.

The U.S. News rankings are the latest in a number of accolades for the college.

• In August Allegheny was named for the third consecutive year to the Top 25 in the Best Liberal Arts Colleges category of Washington Monthly’s college rankings.

• The Princeton Review features Allegheny in the 2016 edition of its annual college guide “The Best 380 Colleges.” In addition, Allegheny was one of only 24 schools to receive a score of 99, the highest possible score, in the guidebook’s Green Honor Roll, which celebrates the most environmentally friendly colleges in the nation.

• Allegheny is one of 200 schools that the Princeton Review profiles in “Colleges That Pay You Back: The 200 Best Value Colleges and What It Takes to Get In – 2015 Edition,” which bases its ratings on data points such as academics, cost, financial aid, student debt, graduation rates, alumni salaries and job satisfaction.

• The Peace Corps recognizes Allegheny College as No. 8 among small schools in the number of its alumni serving as Peace Corps volunteers. Teach for America recognizes Allegheny as No. 9 among small schools in
contributing the greatest number of alumni to its 2015 teaching corps.

The college has taken national leadership roles both in sustainability 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 effort to enhance civility in U.S. politics.

Allegheny requires students to select a minor as well as a major, with the minor outside the academic division of the major, and also requires a Senior Project, a significant piece of independent study, research or creative work conducted under the supervision of one or more faculty members.

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