Augustana University is proud to be named a 2021 Hidden Gem in the U.S. by College Raptor — a leading college planning tool that helps students and families find the schools that best fit their academic and career goals, as well as their financial situations. Augustana earned the distinction alongside 50 other colleges — one in each state, including Washington, D.C.
College Raptor also identified Augustana as a Top 25 Best Urban Hidden Gem and the top college in the state to be named a Hidden Gem in the Plains Region. Included in the latter category are colleges in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
To be considered as a Hidden Gem by College Raptor, an institution must have fewer than 5,000 applicants and 7,000 undergraduate students, as well as an acceptance rate above 10 percent. Colleges are ranked based on a combination of factors, including graduation rates, campus diversity, endowment per student, and other data as reported via the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the most recently-available enrollment year.
Augustana has also been named a top regional university for the second straight year by U.S. News & World Report — ranking #13 in Best Regional Universities in the Midwest. The university was recently ranked the Best College in South Dakota by Niche and made the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and Times Higher Education (THE) list of top U.S. colleges and universities. This summer, career site Zippia ranked Augustana No. 1 nationally for Best Small Colleges for Getting a Job and the second-highest college for post-graduate employment in the nation.