Hobart and William Smith Colleges

7 August 2019 Princeton Review: HWS Top for Impact, Study Abroad

In the 2020 editionof The Princeton Reviews Best 385 Colleges, Hobart and William Smith Colleges are recognized among a small percentage of the nations higher education institutions. Ranking second in the nation for impact, and third for study abroad, the Colleges are also listed among the top 20 in categories spanning faculty, alums and politically active students.

The Colleges profile in Best Colleges, which relies on survey responses from current students, cites a hard working, passionate, caring and incredibly active student body, as well as strong interdisciplinary academics led by an extremely dedicated and approachable faculty that encourages students to follow what [they are] truly passionate about. In addition to amazing study abroad opportunities and opportunities to become successful as an undergrad, Best Colleges underscores the schools forward thinking support and what one respondent calls HWS greatest strengthpreparing students for life after college.

View the full profile and methodology.

On the list of Impact Schools, first reported earlier this year in Princeton Reviews Best Value Colleges, the rankings place HWS second based on student survey responses to questions about community service opportunities, student government, sustainability efforts, and on-campus student engagement. High job meaning, as reported by graduates, is also a factor.

The Colleges study abroad program is third on the Most Popular Study Abroad list, marking four years in a row that HWS has been a top-10 study abroad school (No. 7 in 2017 and No. 1 in the 2018 and 2019 editions).

For the third year in a row, HWS has been named to the Professors Get High Marks list, ranking 13, while coming it at 20 for Most Politically Active.

The Colleges were also named a Green College and included in Best Value Colleges and Colleges That Create Futures lists, ranking 15 for Best Alumni Network based on alumni activity and visibility on campus.

These recognitions follows several other national accolades, including a No. 1 ranking two years running as the top liberal arts institution for service inWashington Monthlys College Guide and Rankings.The Colleges rank third among small schools on the Peace Corps 2019 list of Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities. In its 2019 rankings of Best Value Colleges, the Washington, D.C.-based financial and business publisher Kiplinger listed Hobart and William Smith among the nations top colleges and universities.