Gustavus Adolphus is no longer on charts

Last update: August 17, 2007 - 12:03 AM

Finding Gustavus Adolphus College in U.S. News &World Report's latest rankings of the country's best liberal arts colleges is a little difficult. That's because the St. Peter school no longer requires students to take a standardized test as part of the admission process.

That meant that Gustavus -- tied for 79th nationally a year ago -- was moved into an "unranked" category of schools, according to the magazine.

"It pretty much took us by surprise," said David Menk, Gustavus' director of institutional research. "Our numbers are pretty much the same as last year. I had figured we would be about even from where we were last year."

Said U.S. News editor Brian Kelly: "We view [standardized tests] as a very significant industry standard and it's an important part of the rankings."

While Gustavus officials were surprised, they aren't concerned or worried.

"We're about the college experience, not the ratings and rankings," Menk said. "In the Midwest, I don't think rankings mean near as much as on the East Coast.

"We get students on campus and they fall in love with it, and that's what's important to us."

JEFF SHELMAN

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