Northern Michigan University has been named a 2016-17 College of Distinction for its “engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community and successful outcomes.” Those are four qualities that Colleges of Distinction considers in releasing its annual recommendations designed to match parents and students with the right college.

To qualify for the ranking, universities must also be: nationally recognized by education professionals as an excellent school; strongly focused on teaching undergraduates; home to a wide variety of innovative learning experiences; an active campus with many opportunities for personal development; and highly valued by graduate schools and employers for its outstanding preparation.

According to its website, Colleges of Distinction has served as a resource for 15 years. Nominations for membership in its 2016-17 listing are made by high school college counselors, members of the Colleges of Distinction team and educators whose mission is to find the right college for each student. Nominated schools go through a qualification process.

“Colleges of Distinction is founded on the premise that there are hundreds of remarkable colleges across the United States—each with a unique strength to offer the next generation of college-bound students,” it stated on the website. “Our member colleges are the perfect size to ensure that each student is seen as an important member of the community, academically and in the day-to-day life on campus. These high-performing colleges cover the full range of academic offerings—from the arts and sciences to the humanities to those that excel in engineering and research. You won’t find many of our colleges in the commercial rankings and that is because those lists rely heavily on an impersonal, quantitative evaluation process that overlooks great teaching and successful outcomes.”

For more information, visit www.collegesofdistinction.com.