Academic Indicators
for Houghton College

Updated September, 2008

Mission-oriented thinking requires objectivity: an honest assessment of how an institution is doing, where it is heading, and its alignment with its mission. The following academic indicators compare Houghton with seven of its competitors and five other selected colleges. The academic indicators focus on areas that are measurable and can be found in U.S. News & World Report's, America's Best Colleges (2009).

It is important to note that there is no right or wrong value for any indicator. What is important is to know our position relative to peer institutions, and then to understand the reasons for disparities. These academic indicators provide a framework for better understanding our academic characteristics and for taking steps to improve our competitive position.

Below are competitor college graphs. To view the other selected college graphs place the cursor over a competiors graph and it will change to other selected colleges graph.

Note: Some colleges did not respond to all questions.

1. Percentage of First-Year Students in Top 10% of High School Class	5. Student/Faculty Ratio
2. Percentage of First-Year Students in the Top 25% of High School Class	6. Percentage of Faculty who are Full Time
3. 25/75% SAT Scores of First-Year Students	7. First-Year Student Retention Rate
4. Class Size	8. Graduation Rate

1. Percentage of First-Year Students in the Top 10% of High School Class

U.S News & World Report
America's Best Colleges
2007-2008 figures

One indicator of the academic climate of the student body.

2. Percentage of First-Year Students in the Top 25% of High School Class

U.S News & World Report
America's Best Colleges
2007-2008 figures

Another indicator of the academic climate of the student body.

3. 25/75% SAT Scores of First-Year Students

U.S News & World Report
America's Best Colleges
2007-2008 figures

This is another indicator of the academic climate of the student body.
50% of the entering freshmen have SAT scores within the colored band.

4. Class Size

U.S News & World Report
America's Best Colleges
2007-2008 figures

Small classes allow for more individual student participation.
Larger classes are more cost-efficient.

5. Student/Faculty Ratio
(FTE students/FTE faculty)

U.S News & World Report
America's Best Colleges
2007-2008 figures

Low student/faculty ratio allows for more individual student attention.
High faculty/student ratio is more cost-efficient.

6. Percentage of Faculty Who Are Full Time

U.S News & World Report
America's Best Colleges
2007-2008 figures

This variable has also been linked to quality of instruction.

7. First-Year Student Retention Rate

U.S . News & World Report
America's Best Colleges
2007-2008 figures

The extent to which freshmen continue attending is an indicator of the quality and fit of their freshman year.
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8. Graduation Rate
(Entering freshmen who graduated within six years)

U.S . News & World Report
America's Best Colleges
2007-2008 figures

The extent to which students persist to the completion of their degree is an index of the quality and fit of their undergraduate experience.

Comments or Questions? Contact willis.beardsley@Houghton.edu