GOSHEN — Nearly 45 percent of local high school students graduating at the top of their class will opt for a private Indiana college education beginning next fall, according to the second annual Top 10 student survey conducted by The Goshen News.
In comparison, 37.8 percent of students will attend a public Indiana college or university.
Area high school guidance counselors and principals in The Goshen News’ four-county coverage area were asked to submit data about their top 10 students from the graduating class of 2016.
Students from nine public high schools — Goshen, Concord, Fairfield, Lakeland, Northridge, NorthWood, Wawasee, Westview and West Noble — as well as two private schools — Bethany Christian Schools and Clinton Christian School — are included in this year’s data.
Clinton Christian submitted data for eight students, as school leaders prepare this week to celebrate the successes of the smallest graduating class included in this year’s survey.
NorthWood High School submitted data for 13 students, all who earned a 4.0 grade point average and will share the valedictorian spotlight this year.
The survey includes data from 111 students, three more students than were included in last year’s report.
Staying in state
More than 82 percent of local top students plan to remain in Indiana for the fall semester, while 13.5 percent will depart for colleges and universities in California, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah and Virginia.
The largest number of top students — 24 or 21.6 percent — plan to attend Purdue University, according to the survey.
Goshen College and Indiana University tied for second on the list for post-graduation plans, with nine students stating they plan to study at those institutions. Indiana Wesleyan and Grace College will each welcome seven top students from the surveyed schools.
None of the top students surveyed plan to attend one of the eight Ivy League schools.
Indiana small colleges attract students
In comparison to the class of 2015, more top graduating seniors this year will make their way onto the campuses of smaller colleges and universities within the state.
Last year, 42 top students selected a private college compared to 49 this year.
More 2016 top graduates will opt to attend colleges within a few hours’ driving distance of home, choosing higher education institutions such as Grace College, Trine University, Bethel College and Huntington University.
Fewer selected larger universities such as Indiana University, University of Indianapolis, University of Notre Dame, Indiana Purdue University Fort Wayne and Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis compared to the previous year.
According to Richard Ludwick, president and CEO of Independent Colleges of Indiana, Hoosier students selecting small, private institutions over large colleges and state universities is not a new phenomenon.
Indianapolis-based Independent College of Indiana, or ICI, is a nonprofit corporation that represents 31 regionally accredited degree granting, nonprofit, private colleges and universities in the state.
Ludwick said the fact that more than 44 percent of local top students included in The Goshen News survey would attend independent colleges in the fall is “great news, but also mirrors what we have seen over the course of time.”
ICI officials have studied and surveyed students who choose small, private universities and have found that the majority are pleased with the level of excellence, the financial aid available and their ability to find success after college, Ludwick said.
“What we know is that the majority of students who attend private institutions in the state are Hoosiers,” he said.
More than half of students who attend one of ICI’s 31 member schools are Hoosiers, Ludwick said.
“Given the number of high-profile, competitive institutions nationwide, it’s a very good sign that the majority of our students do come from Indiana,” he added.
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Where they’re going
The following shows where this year’s top graduating seniors at local high schools plan to attend college:
24 — Purdue. 9 — Goshen College and Indiana University Bloomington. 7 — Grace College and Indiana Wesleyan . 5 — Indiana University South Bend. 4 — Bethel College. 3 — Butler University, Huntington University, Rose-Hulman, Trine University and workforce. 2 — Anderson University, Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne, Notre Dame, University of Indianapolis. 1 — Azusa Pacific, Brigham Young University, Calvin College, church mission, DePauw University, Eastern Mennonite, Free Gospel Bible Institute, Grand Valley State University, Hesston College, Holy Cross, Hope College, Illinois Central College, IUPUI, Ivy Tech Community College, Johnson and Wale University, Saginaw Valley State University, undecided, University of Buffalo, University of North Carolina, University of Northwestern Ohio, University of St. Francis, Wabash College and Washington University.
