With their birthday just months away, local ’Buffs received an early present this week.
Milligan College was ranked second in the four-year colleges category for the “Best Colleges in Tennessee” according to a list compiled by BestColleges.com. With over 60 higher-learning institutes within the state, the group broke up the lists for top four-year and two-year schools. Milligan was second in the four-year category with Vanderbilt University taking the top spot.
It was an accomplishment that the school appreciates, according to Milligan College President Dr. Bill Greer.
“There are lots of ranking organizations out there,” Greer told the Elizabethton Star Wednesday. “Different organizations use different methods and to hear we were ranked number two in the BestColleges.com rankings is an honor. Especially with all the different metrics that take into consideration. With our numbers, quality of schools out there and the benchmarks the organization uses to rank schools … we take this as an honor.
“Plus, coming in second to Vanderbilt isn’t too shabby either,” the president added with a chuckle.
BestColleges.com uses data comprised from IPEDS and College Navigator, with both websites managed by the National Center for Education Statistics. The bulk of information is comprised from the 2013-14 school year, according to BestColleges, but newer information is used when provided. BestColleges uses a ranking criteria where, in all cases, it measures a school’s academic quality and affordability and ranks programs with the consideration of depth for each college’s online offerings.
“Milligan College is most often regarded for its liberal arts curriculum, with more than 100 different majors and minors to choose from,” the report stated. “The belief is that an interdisciplinary degree in the humanities helps to provide its more than 1,200 students with an educational foundation for the various historical, philosophical, literary and artistic principles of modern society.
“Milligan describes itself as a Christian college, and encourages students to ‘see God’s hand in all subjects — whether studying accounting, history, or the fine arts,’” the report continued. “It touts a ‘distinctively different’ approach to higher education through a focus on scholarship, community and faith. With a history that spans nearly 150 years, Milligan College is viewed as a pre-eminent learning institution in Tennessee.”
The history of Milligan College will be on full display this year with school officially turning 150 years old on Saturday, Dec. 10.
“It was back in December of 1866 that we were granted a charter as the Buffalo Male and Female Institute,” Dr. Greer said. “Being nestled right in the community over Buffalo Creek, watching the school thrive and see our numbers … the transformation has been incredible. It really means a lot to see the success of the school be highlighted in a way like the rankings showed.”
The recent accolade is something that current, past and future ’Buffs can take pride in, the president added.
“The way Milligan’s graduation numbers have been, our retention, student loans and the way they pay it back, we’re excited about the growth of the college,” Dr. Greer added. “We always knew that Milligan College is one of the best colleges in the state and this just reaffirms it. We’re delighted about this honor, our students are delighted and we hope Elizabethton and Carter County can take pride in knowing that one of the best colleges in the state is right in our area.”