“U.S. News & World Report” Ranks Whitworth No. 1 Best Value and No. 1 Best Undergraduate Teaching in the West

Ranked No. 2 Best Colleges for Veterans

Ranked No. 3 Best Regional Universities

U.S. News & World Report, in its 2023 Best Colleges Rankings, has named Whitworth University No. 1 best value and No. 1 in undergraduate teaching among regional universities in the West. Whitworth was also ranked No. 2 in best colleges for veterans and No. 3 overall among best regional universities in the West.

“We always appreciate U.S. News recognizing Whitworth’s unwavering commitments, regardless of rankings, to serving and supporting students,” says Greg Orwig, vice president for admissions & student financial services. “Being ranked the best in the West in undergraduate teaching underscores our abiding commitment to hiring faculty members who are great scholars and who see their primary calling as teaching and mentoring students – inside and outside the classroom. Being ranked No. 1 in the West for best value and No. 2 for best colleges for veterans reflects the extraordinary investments Whitworth has made in financial aid to increase student access and in supporting veteran and military-connected students, including by opening a 3,000-square-foot Military & Veterans Resource Center on campus.”

Seventeen indicators of academic quality determine each school’s overall score. They include:

• graduation and retention rates

• social mobility

• faculty resources

• undergraduate academic reputation 

• faculty resources for the 2021-22 academic year

• student selectivity 

• financial resources per student  

• average alumni giving rate 

U.S. News & World Report believes rankings are helpful to college applicants because they rate the strength of the academic program at each undergraduate institution. The rankings condense a great deal of information about the quality of education at each school, making it easier to compare institutions and select the best one for an individual. U.S. News administers its own data collection, which means much of the data published in its college directory is more current and comprehensive than what is available elsewhere. 

The rankings are available online at usnews.com/colleges and will be in the print edition of the Best Colleges 2023 guidebook.

Best Regional Universities (West)

1.	University of Portland	OR
2.	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	CA
3.	Whitworth University	WA
4.	Saint Mary’s College of California	CA

Best Value Schools-Regional Universities (West)

1.	Whitworth University	WA
2.	University of Dallas	TX
3.	St. Mary’s University of San Antonio	TX
4.	Pacific Lutheran University	WA

Best Undergraduate Teaching-Regional Universities (West)

1.	Whitworth University	WA
2.	California Polytechnic State Univ. –San Luis Obispo	CA
3.	University of Portland	OR
4.	California Polytechnic State Univ.-Humboldt	CA

Best Colleges for Veterans-Regional Universities (West)

1.	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	CA
2.	Whitworth University	WA
3.	California Lutheran University	CA
4.	St. Edward’s University	TX

About Whitworth University:

Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university, which has an enrollment of nearly 3,000 students, offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Contacts:

Trisha Coder, media relations manager, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or tcoder@whitworth.edu.