Our National Reputation and Praise

 

Unique school sees unique success

"Seattle Times," Sept. 24, 2007

Since its founding in 1971, The Evergreen State College has set itself apart. Instead of A's, B's and C's, professors give individual written evaluations; rather than choosing a department or major, students design their own curriculums.

"Evergreen has always had a reputation," said Jillian Kinzie, who's with the Indiana University-based Center for Postsecondary Research, a nonprofit that studies educational effectiveness.

"It started out as an alternative kind of institution — and it has really taken on that challenge and continued to define what is the best information about how to teach, how students learn and how to implement that."

more... 

Innovative Education, Individual Freedom

Colleges of Distinction, 2007
True innovation is a joy to behold. The Evergreen State College has boldly departed from the stale standard operating practices that have come to shape academic programs at most institutions of higher learning.

One of the nation's most academically challenging - and a top college for the level of active and collaborative learning for students.

National Survey of Student Engagement, 2006
The study, founded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, says Evergreen students develop top abilities in analyzing theories and ideas and spend more time preparing for classes and reading textbooks.

Evergreen students also spend more time making class presentations and working with other students on projects than most of the nation's college students. Evergreen freshman and seniors cite the remarkable quality of interaction with faculty members and other students and the campus physical environment as keys to success.

"This national study again confirms what we have known for some time. Evergreen's students receive an extraordinary education that prepares them to engage with real-world issues in a changing world," said Thomas L. Purce, Evergreen's president.

260,000 college students at 523 U.S. universities participated in the National Survey of Student Engagement. "For years, researchers have pointed to involvement in educationally purposeful activities as the gateway to desired outcomes of college. Students who engage more frequently in educationally effective get better grades, are more satisfied and are more likely to persist," says George Kuh, the director of the survey.

One of "America's Best Value Colleges"

"America's Best Value Colleges" Random House/Princeton Review, April 19, 2005

The Princeton Review features Evergreen as one of the 81 schools it recommends in the new 2006 edition of its book, America's Best Value Colleges (Random House/Princeton Review, April 19, 2005). The book is a guide to colleges with outstanding academics, generous financial aid packages and relatively low costs. The book cites Evergreen as "a public, ultra-progressive liberal arts school" offering what most colleges cannot, "private college amenities and class sizes at a public university price." The Review refers to Evergreen students as "residents who have distinguished themselves in a wide range of areas, including academics, community service, art, journalism and science." Said Robert Franek, V.P.-Publishing, The Princeton Review, "We used over 30 factors to rate the colleges in four categories: Academics, Tuition GPA (the sticker price minus average amount students receive in scholarships and grants), Financial Aid (how well colleges meet students' financial need), and Student Borrowing. Bottom line: the 81 schools that met our criteria for this book are all great college education deals."

A Program to Look For

"America's Best Colleges 2004," U.S. News & World Report, 2003

For first-year experiences, offering freshmen seminars and other programs that bring together small groups of students with faculty or staff on a regular basis.

For learning communities, where students typically take two or more linked courses together and get to know each other and their professors.

Most for Your Money: A Hot School of 2004

"Newsweek," Sept. 1, 2003

"With states increasingly focusing resources on small liberal-arts colleges in their systems, Evergreen has become a contender for those who might head off to pricey private schools. It has a small school's size, curriculum and educational chops."

A Top 100 Outstanding (But Underappreciated) College

"Harvard Schmarvard: Getting Beyond the Ivy League to the College That Is Best for You," Jay Mathews, 2003

"In keeping with the individualistic traditions of the Pacific Northwest, the 4,000 undergraduates are required to create their own course of study on this lovely campus."

Hipness Grade: A+

"The Hipster Handbook," Robert Lanham, 2002

Evergreen "is the kind of school where you earn high marks just for being a Hipster. Calvin Johnson is an alumnus of Evergreen. He is also the founder of K Records, whose slogan is 'Exploding the teenage underground into passionate revolt against the corporate ogre since 1982.' Bruce Pavitt, who founded SubPop records and coined the term 'grunge,' also went to Evergreen."

One of the 40 Best College Towns

"Outside," Sept. 2003

"Students are free to design their own academic pathways, and innovative courses like snow ecology combine a mix of ecology, technical mountaineering, and wilderness first-response training."

Evergreen ranked 81st in The Washington Monthly Liberal Arts College Rankings 

Visit The Washington Monthly College Guide to learn more about their unique ranking methodology and to see the complete rankings.

A College That Changes Lives

"Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools You Should Know About Even If You're A Straight-A Student," Loren Pope, 1996, 2000

"The Evergreen State College offers the most unusual undergraduate experience in the Northwest, or in any public institution anywhere. Taxpayers everywhere should demand colleges like this one that changes their children's lives. For a public institution it is more than unusual, it is unique, because values are as important as learning and public service is strongly encouraged."