<p>I am thinking about creating a blog or an e-article, listing small colleges that are not super elite but are great schools. Colleges That Changes Lives is a terrific resource but has limitations. Not sure yet how I would arrive at my list(s), perhaps using stats or cross-checking subjective rankings of unknown gems.<br>
I would appreciate any feedback about the concept of such a "guide book" or the list below. I have no special qualifications -- just a dad with a computer modem and too much free time.</p>
<p>This list was generated from IPEDS data base run by the US Department of Education, using these parameters: small colleges that admit at least 40% of applicants and have at least a 85% retention rate and 6-yr graduation rate. It is a short list and only 5 of the schools admit more than 60% of applicants.</p>
<p>Name % Admitted %Retained Undergrad Enrollment</p>
<p>Babson College 40% 92% 1956
Brandeis University 40 94 3316
Denison University 49 90 2255
Fairfield University 65 88 3382
Franklin and Marshall 45 92 2280
Furman University 68 92 2623
Gustavus Adolphus 70 91 2424
Illinois Wesleyan 62 93 2088
Lafayette College 42 95 2362
Macalester College 43 94 1987
Muhlenberg College 48 92 2370
Occidental College 42 91 2076
Skidmore College 47 95 2690
St. Olaf College 57 93 3105
Trinity College 43 91 2182
Union College 42 91 2170
Wheaton College (IL) 66 96 2362
Whitman College 47 93 1528</p>
<p>Definitions:
Retention Rate: Full-time Students who began their studies in Fall 2008 and returned in Fall 2009. Year 2009 is the latest sortable data available.
6-Year Graduation Rate: Percent of students who graduated in 6 years or less, based on latest sortable data available on IPEDS.
I defined small college as having full-time undergrad enrollment of between 900 to 3500 students.</p>