草榴社区 has been named the top undergraduate institution in by Launchpad Rankings, the joint effort of a U.S.-based group of prominent leaders from academia and industry and Education World, India鈥檚 largest human development magazine.
Unlike traditional rankings that often emphasize institutional selectivity or prestige over student experience, Launchpad鈥檚 methodology centers on indicators, such as class size, focus on faculty teaching, retention rate and experiential education opportunities, which are often considered predictive of student and workforce success. The result is a ranking that reflects how well a university delivers on the promise of education as a launchpad to a career.
At a time when students and families are increasingly focused on outcomes and return on investment in their college decision-making process, this recognition affirms Kettering鈥檚 effectiveness in preparing students for meaningful, high-impact careers. Kettering鈥檚 distinctive 50/50 blend of rigorous academics and hands-on Co-op experience, which alternates classroom instruction with paid, professional work experiences every 11 weeks over the course of a student鈥檚 entire undergraduate college career, is the centerpiece of its unique academic model. Kettering received the highest possible scores in two critical areas鈥攖eaching focus and experiential learning鈥攗nderscoring the powerful impact of this signature Co-op education model.
鈥淭oday, education and career can 鈥 and ideally should 鈥 begin and develop at the same time,鈥 said 草榴社区 President Dr. Robert K. McMahan. 鈥淎t Kettering, our students not only earn one of the best undergraduate degrees in the sciences and engineering, but also graduate with up to two and a half years of professional, mentored experience in the practice of their planned professional discipline. That creates a completely different outcome. Our students often graduate into roles well beyond entry level because they鈥檙e already trusted employees.鈥
Kettering鈥檚 placement at the top of the rankings also reinforces the long-standing value of its deep partnerships with industry leaders in automotive, automation/autonomous vehicles, advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, bioengineering, computer science/cybersecurity, and energy systems, among many other fields. These relationships ensure that graduates leave Kettering not only with a degree, but with experience, skills and a professional network that accelerates their professional journey.
Findings from other industry watchers support Launchpad鈥檚 assessment. Ranked among the top ten in career preparation by The Wall Street Journal, Kettering graduates not only often start in positions above entry level but are then fast-tracked in the early years of their career. The University boasts one of the highest annualized returns in the nation鈥8%, according to CollegeFactual.com鈥攄riven in part by students earning up to $100,000 through paid Co-op experiences during their college careers.
The Launchpad ranking news follows Kettering鈥檚 recent announcement of catalytic changes to its academic framework aimed at further strengthening its leadership at the intersection of education and industry. As part of the initiative, the University will launch an enhanced College of Engineering and Computer Science, a new School of Foundational Studies, and an expanded Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science.
