To ensure Colorado College thrives for the next 150 years, we must make strategic choices that strengthen our institution and advance both our immediate and long-term priorities. After careful consideration and community input, I am writing to share that CC will reenter the U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) rankings this spring.
This decision reflects the realities of today’s higher education landscape and is guided by three key factors:
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- Visibility and Recognition — Rankings like those in USNWR amplify the impact of a CC education, reinforcing what our alumni and community already know: CC produces engaged, forward-thinking leaders. Our strong outcomes, including high graduation rates, competitive post-graduate employment, and top-tier faculty engagement, deserve recognition on a national stage and help us fulfill our mission.
- Access and Opportunity — Many prospective students and families — especially those without extensive social and cultural capital to inform their decision— rely on rankings to navigate the college search process. Rejoining the USNWR rankings ensures that more students from diverse backgrounds can discover CC, aligning with our commitment to expanding educational access.
- Talent Attraction and Retention — Faculty and staff consider rankings when evaluating potential employers. By reentering the USNWR rankings, we enhance our ability to recruit and retain exceptional teacher-scholars and dedicated staff who are drawn to institutions recognized for academic excellence, student success, and innovation.
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A hallmark of the liberal arts is cognitive flexibility — the capacity to adapt one’s thinking in response to new information and evolving circumstances. We made our initial decision to withdraw from the USNWR rankings in 2023 based on the best information available at the time. Now, with greater insight into how prospective students, families, faculty, and staff use and value this data, it is clear that rejoining serves the best interests of CC and our future.
We will continue to make thoughtful, mission-driven decisions that uphold our values, serve our students, and secure the long-term strength of Colorado College.
Sincerely,
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