Knox College is again ranked among colleges with the "happiest and most successful alumni," according to the 2018 "Grateful Graduates Index" compiled by Forbes magazine.

Knox is ranked 45th in the nation, and second in Illinois to University of Chicago, based on the percentage of alumni who are making gifts to the college, and the total amount donated to the college, adjusted for enrollment.

This is the fifth year in a row that Knox has been ranked among the top private colleges in the country in the Forbes "Grateful Grads Index."

"The 'Grateful Grads' ranking from Forbes shows how much Knox alumni believe in Knox College and the value of their education," said Knox College President Teresa Amott. "Now they're giving back to Knox, helping make higher education affordable and accessible for as many students as possible."

Data about Knox College that figure into the ranking include a three-year average alumni giving rate of 27.9 percent and a median gift of $9,624 per enrolled student over the past seven years. Knox's average alumni giving rate is the highest in Illinois and 33rd in the nation.

In all, more than 7,000 donors to Knox gave more than $13.2 million during the 2017-18 fiscal year, including more than $1 million in the Campaign for Our Knox, targeted specifically for student financial aid and scholarships.

Forbes says that its Grateful Grads Index shows that "the best way to evaluate a four-year college education may actually revolve around just one variable—alumni giving."