UD Earns Recognition Among America’s Best Colleges
Date published: July 23, 2018
The University of Dallas was recently named, once again, a national College of Distinction
among nearly 400 of America’s best liberal arts institutions. Adding to the university’s
list of recent notable accolades, UD earned its placement in the 2019 edition of the
“Fiske Guide to Colleges” — a comprehensive guidebook of the best colleges offering
a superior education at an affordable cost — and ranked among the country’s “Best
Catholic Colleges of 2018” by the ranking publisher College Consensus.
This marks the 11th consecutive year UD was named by the Fiske Guide among more than
300 of the “best and most interesting” colleges, and the ninth back-to-back year the
university has been recognized by the “Colleges of Distinction Guidebook.”
“The University of Dallas has long been identified for offering a uniquely Catholic,
liberal education in the classics of Western civilization,” said Interim President
John G. Plotts, Ed.D. “We are honored that UD has continually garnered national recognition
for its superior academics and quality community life from such reputable college
guides and publishers. It’s a privilege to be named among the best institutions in
our country.”
‘Philosopher Kings of the 21st Century’
The Fiske Guide hailed the University of Dallas as appealing to “those students who pride themselves
on being the ‘philosopher kings of the 21st century,’ but whose roots go back to the
Roman thinkers of an earlier era.” The annual college guide highlighted the university’s
semester-long study abroad Rome Program, as well as its Roman Catholic affiliation
and influence — and touted UD as “the best Roman Catholic college south of Washington,
D.C.”
Compiled by former New York Times education editor Edward B. Fiske, the guidebook
serves as a selective, subjective and systematic look at more than 300 colleges and
universities in Canada, Great Britain and the United States. According to Fiske’s
criteria, the selection of schools is based on academic strength, extracurricular
activities and overall quality of student life.
College of Distinction
The 2018-19 “Colleges of Distinction Guidebook” named the Crusaders one of three Catholic
Colleges of Distinction in Texas, and featured UD for having one of our nation’s most
vibrant college communities.
In order to be designated a national College of Distinction, a school’s curriculum
“must emphasize such core competencies as critical thinking, writing, oral skills,
research and global perspectives.” According to the guidebook’s institutional profile
of UD, “While pursuing their undergraduate degrees, University of Dallas students
grow spiritually, intellectually, socially and creatively through various student
organizations and activities.”
The academic distinction is presented annually to colleges and universities identified
by educational professionals nationwide for exemplary commitment to engaged students,
great teaching, a vibrant community and successful outcomes. The listing challenges
traditional ranking models such as the popular U.S. News and World Report’s “Best
Colleges,” which the organization claims favors “brand-name” institutions over those
that offer a more well-rounded education.
‘Best Catholic Colleges of 2018’
The “Best Catholic Colleges of 2018” listing by College Consensus combines the rankings
of nationally and internationally cited publishers such as the Academic Ranking of
World Universities, the Wall Street Journal and U.S. News & World Report. The new
meta-ranking service also listed UD in the categories of America’s “Best Colleges
& Universities of 2018,” “Best Regional Universities - West” and (for the second consecutive
year) the “Best Colleges & Universities in Texas.”
According to its website, “By combining the results of all of the most reputable college
ranking publishers and thousands of real student reviews from around the web, College
Consensus provides the most accurate and comprehensive ranking of a school's reputation
and quality available anywhere.”
Learn more about UD’s institutional awards and distinctions.