22 September 2022 HWS Ranked 4th in the Nation for Service

For the sixth year in a row, Hobart and William Smith Colleges are among the top five U.S. liberal arts institutions for service, according to Washington Monthly’s annual rankings.

Washington Monthly’s 2022 College Guide and Rankings puts HWS at fourth in the nation among liberal arts colleges for service. The policy magazine’s annual rankings also cite HWS for student voting initiatives.

“Engagement in local communities and in the civic process is central to the student experience at HWS. It’s exciting to see how each new class puts their passion into action as they serve communities near and far. And, of course, it’s exciting to see our campus’ efforts recognized again,” says Katie Flowers, director of the HWS Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning.

Since 2005, Washington Monthly has rated U.S. colleges and universities according to their contribution to the public good in three categories: social mobility, research, and opportunities for public service. Among liberal arts colleges overall, Hobart and William Smith placed 47th nationally and fourth in service in the 2022 rankings. Service rankings are calculated according to HWS alum service in the Peace Corps; institutional participation in the AmeriCorps Matching Program; the allocation of Federal Work-Study grant funds toward community service programs; and voting engagement. Social mobility factors in graduation rates, financial data and student body diversity. Research includes the number of fulltime faculty, Ph.D. completion rates among graduates and institutional research spending.

Read the full rankings and methodology.

In addition, The Princeton Review’s Best 388 Colleges positioned Hobart and William Smith’s faculty on the “High Marks” list and also recognized the campus as a place where “Green Matters.” In the 2023 edition of Best 388 Colleges, HWS were among only 25 schools recognized for having professors who, based on student surveys, get high marks, “are interesting, and bring their material to life.” HWS has appeared on the list for six consecutive years, including last year’s, which paid tribute to colleges with historically “stellar records of student satisfaction” that have earned distinction on the list for decades. In this year’s rankings, HWS also number among the 25 institutions singled out as having students and administrators who care about the environment.