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What Experts Say About Knox

1. We're academically excellent.

U.S. News & World Report ranked Knox #76 among 211 national liberal arts colleges, as well as among the top 50 national liberal arts colleges for Best Undergraduate Teaching and Most Innovative Schools. Knox was also selected to be part of The Princeton Review’s 2026 edition of The Best 391 Colleges, as well as one of its Best Midwest colleges.

2. We're a college that changes lives.

Knox has been included in every edition of Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges since the groundbreaking book was first published in 1996. We're also a proud member of the Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL) non-profit organization; which promotes a student-centered approach to the college search process. Knox is also included on the National Listing of LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges & Universities on the National Campus Pride Index. 

3. We're committed to service.

Washington Monthly agrees, ranking Knox #45 among more than 200 national liberal arts colleges for its contributions to the public good, as well as the number one liberal arts college in Illinois. This is the 14th year in a row that Knox has appeared in the top 50 of this national ranking.

4. We're a best-value school.

That's according to U.S. News and World Report, which ranked Knox #22 among colleges with top reputations for both academic excellence and affordability. U.S. News and World Report also put Knox at #15 in Social Mobility—meaning we are successful at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of students awarded Pell Grants. Washington Monthly named Knox a top midwestern "Best Bang for the Buck" college in the magazine's College Guide and Rankings.

7. We're a green (and silver) college.

Knox is including in The Princeton Review's list of Green Colleges and achieved a significant milestone in sustainability, earning its fourth STARS silver rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the sustainability tracking, assessment, and rating system, recognizes and encourages sustainability in higher education institutions. Knox’s sustainability practices have also earned the College many accolades, including a mention in participation in the national Race to Zero Waste campaign, LEED Gold certification for the Whitcomb Art Center, and more.

8. We contribute to the public good.

Knox is ranked #37 among more than 200 national liberal arts colleges by Washington Monthly for our contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research, and promoting public service. . This is the twelfth year in a row that Knox has appeared in the top 50 of this national ranking. Knox was also ranked top 25 liberal arts colleges in the nation for Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report.

9. We're a "Hidden Gem."

College Raptor featured Knox as one of its top "hidden gem" liberal arts colleges in the Great Lakes region. The list features under-the-radar colleges that may not be household names but  bring "serious academic heat."