To sort colleges and universities into their appropriate ranking categories for the 2012 Best Colleges rankings, we used the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching's Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education 2010 revisions to its highly respected Basic Classification. The Basic Classification is the traditional framework that Carnegie has used to classify colleges.
As a result of this latest revision, many colleges have switched ranking categories (from National Liberal Arts Colleges to Regional Colleges, from Regional Colleges to National Liberal Arts, from Regional Universities to National Universities, or from National Universities to Regional Universities, for example) and some schools have been added to the Best Colleges rankings for the first time. In most cases, these category changes were the main explanation for the biggest movements in this year's Best Colleges rankings.
Listed below are the schools, listed in alphabetical order, that changed ranking categories in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges. The table lists their current 2012 Best Colleges ranking category and their 2011 edition ranking category.
| School (State) | 2011 Edition Ranking Category | 2012 Edition Ranking Category |
|---|---|---|
| Albertus Magnus College (CT) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Universities (North) |
| Alice Lloyd College (KY) | Regional Colleges (South) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Asbury University (KY) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (South) |
| Ashland University (OH) | Regional Universities (Midwest) | National Universities |
| Atlantic Union College (MA) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Unranked |
| Baker University (KS) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Universities (Midwest) |
| Baptist Bible College (MO) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Unranked |
| Baptist Bible College and Seminary (PA) | Regional Colleges (North) | Unranked |
| Bay Path College (MA) | Regional Colleges (North) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Benedictine College (KS) | Regional Universities (Midwest) | Regional Colleges (Midwest) |
| Benedictine University (IL) | Regional Universities (Midwest) | National Universities |
| Bethany Lutheran College (MN) | Regional Colleges (Midwest) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Bethel College (KS) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (Midwest) |
| Black Hills State University (SD) | Regional Colleges (Midwest) | Regional Universities (Midwest) |
| Bowie State University (MD) | Regional Universities (North) | National Universities |
| Brigham Young University--Hawaii | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (West) |
| California State University--Monterey Bay | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Universities (West) |
| Campbellsville University (KY) | Regional Colleges (South) | Regional Universities (South) |
| Cardinal Stritch University (WI) | Regional Universities (Midwest) | National Universities |
| Carroll College (MT) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (West) |
| Carson-Newman College (TN) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (South) |
| Carthage College (WI) | Regional Colleges (Midwest) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Castleton State College (VT) | Regional Universities (North) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Cedar Crest College (PA) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (North) |
| Chester College of New England (NH) | Specialty Schools: Art | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Christopher Newport University (VA) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Universities (South) |
| Claflin University (SC) | Regional Colleges (South) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Clarke University (IA) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (Midwest) |
| Clearwater Christian College (FL) | Regional Colleges (South) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Coastal Carolina University (SC) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Universities (South) |
| College of St. Mary (NE) | Regional Colleges (Midwest) | Regional Universities (Midwest) |
| Colorado State University--Pueblo | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Universities (West) |
| Concordia College (NY) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (North) |
| Concordia University (NE) | Regional Colleges (Midwest) | Regional Universities (Midwest) |
| Concordia University Texas | Regional Colleges (West) | Regional Universities (West) |
| Curry College (MA) | Regional Colleges (North) | Regional Universities (North) |
| Dakota State University (SD) | Regional Colleges (Midwest) | Regional Universities (Midwest) |
| Eastern Nazarene College (MA) | Regional Colleges (North) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| East-West University (IL) | Regional Colleges (Midwest) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Edgewood College (WI) | Regional Universities (Midwest) | National Universities |
| Endicott College (MA) | Regional Colleges (North) | Regional Universities (North) |
| Erskine College (SC) | Regional Colleges (South) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Evangel University (MO) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (Midwest) |
| Excelsior College (NY) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Universities (North) |
| Fairmont State University (WV) | Regional Colleges (South) | Regional Universities (South) |
| Fashion Institute of Technology (NY) | Regional Colleges (North) | Regional Universities (North) |
| Felician College (NJ) | Regional Colleges (North) | Regional Universities (North) |
| Ferrum College (VA) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (South) |
| Florida Memorial University | Regional Colleges (South) | Regional Universities (South) |
| Fort Valley State University (GA) | Regional Universities (South) | Regional Colleges (South) |
| Franklin Pierce University (NH) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Universities (North) |
| George Fox University (OR) | National Universities | Regional Universities (West) |
| Golden Gate University (CA) | National Universities | Regional Universities (West) |
| Greensboro College (NC) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (South) |
| Hastings College (NE) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (Midwest) |
| Hillsdale College (MI) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Unranked |
| Hope International University (CA) | Regional Universities (West) | Regional Colleges (West) |
| Huntingdon College (AL) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (South) |
| Jarvis Christian College (TX) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (West) |
| Kentucky State University | Regional Colleges (South) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Kentucky Wesleyan College | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (South) |
| Kettering University (MI) | Specialty Schools: Engineering | Regional Universities (Midwest) |
| Keuka College (NY) | Regional Colleges (North) | Regional Universities (North) |
| King College (TN) | Regional Colleges (South) | Regional Universities (South) |
| La Roche College (PA) | Regional Universities (North) | Regional Colleges (North) |
| Lake Erie College (OH) | Regional Colleges (Midwest) | Regional Universities (Midwest) |
| Lamar University (TX) | Regional Universities (West) | National Universities |
| Langston University (OK) | Regional Colleges (West) | Regional Universities (West) |
| Life University (GA) | Regional Universities (South) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Lindsey Wilson College (KY) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Universities (South) |
| Long Island University--C.W. Post Campus (NY) | National Universities | Regional Universities (North) |
| Louisiana State University--Alexandria | Regional Colleges (South) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Lourdes College (OH) | Regional Colleges (Midwest) | Regional Universities (Midwest) |
| Lynn University (FL) | Regional Universities (South) | National Universities |
| Maryville University of St. Louis (MO) | Regional Universities (Midwest) | National Universities |
| McKendree University (IL) | Regional Colleges (Midwest) | Regional Universities (Midwest) |
| McPherson College (KS) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (Midwest) |
| Menlo College (CA) | Specialty Schools: Business | Regional Colleges (West) |
| Meredith College (NC) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (South) |
| Merrimack College (MA) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (North) |
| Metropolitan State College of Denver | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (West) |
| Mid-Continent University (KY) | Specialty Schools: Business | Regional Colleges (South) |
| Middle Tennessee State University | Regional Universities (South) | National Universities |
| Millikin University (IL) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (Midwest) |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering | Regional Colleges (Midwest) | Regional Universities (Midwest) |
| Missouri University of Science & Technology | National Universities | Specialty Schools: Engineering |
| Montreat College (NC) | Regional Colleges (South) | Regional Universities (South) |
| Mount Marty College (SD) | Regional Universities (Midwest) | Regional Colleges (Midwest) |
| Mount Vernon Nazarene University (OH) | Regional Colleges (Midwest) | Regional Universities (Midwest) |
| National Hispanic University (CA) | Regional Colleges (West) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| National-Louis University (IL) | Regional Universities (Midwest) | National Universities |
| New England College (NH) | Regional Colleges (North) | Regional Universities (North) |
| Nichols College (MA) | Specialty Schools: Business | Regional Colleges (North) |
| North Greenville University (SC) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (South) |
| Northwestern Oklahoma State University | Regional Colleges (West) | Regional Universities (West) |
| Olivet College (MI) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (Midwest) |
| Oral Roberts University (OK) | National Universities | Regional Universities (West) |
| Ouachita Baptist University (AR) | Regional Colleges (South) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Our Lady of Holy Cross College (LA) | Regional Colleges (South) | Regional Universities (South) |
| Our Lady of the Lake University (TX) | Regional Universities (West) | National Universities |
| Pacific Union College (CA) | Regional Colleges (West) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Pacific University (OR) | National Universities | Regional Universities (West) |
| Paine College (GA) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (South) |
| Peru State College (NE) | Regional Colleges (Midwest) | Regional Universities (Midwest) |
| Pratt Institute (NY) | Specialty Schools: Art | Regional Universities (North) |
| Quincy University (IL) | Regional Colleges (Midwest) | Regional Universities (Midwest) |
| Regis College (MA) | Regional Universities (North) | Unranked |
| Robert Morris University (IL) | Regional Colleges (Midwest) | Regional Universities (Midwest) |
| Roger Williams University (RI) | Regional Colleges (North) | Regional Universities (North) |
| Sam Houston State University (TX) | Regional Universities (West) | National Universities |
| Samford University (AL) | National Universities | Regional Universities (South) |
| Santa Fe University of Art and Design (NM) | Regional Universities (West) | Specialty Schools: Art |
| Savannah State University (GA) | Regional Universities (South) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Shawnee State University (OH) | Regional Colleges (Midwest) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Shepherd University (WV) | Regional Colleges (South) | Regional Universities (South) |
| Shorter University (GA) | Regional Colleges (South) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Sierra Nevada College (NV) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Universities (West) |
| Silver Lake College (WI) | Regional Universities (Midwest) | Regional Colleges (Midwest) |
| Southern Arkansas University | Regional Colleges (South) | Regional Universities (South) |
| Southwestern Assemblies of God University (TX) | Regional Colleges (West) | Regional Universities (West) |
| St. Andrews Presbyterian College (NC) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (South) |
| St. John Fisher College (NY) | Regional Universities (North) | National Universities |
| St. John's College (NM) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Universities (West) |
| St. Joseph's College New York | Regional Colleges (North) | Regional Universities (North) |
| Stephens College (MO) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (Midwest) |
| Sterling College (KS) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (Midwest) |
| Stevenson University (MD) | Regional Colleges (North) | Regional Universities (North) |
| Stillman College (AL) | Regional Colleges (South) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi | Regional Universities (West) | National Universities |
| Texas Lutheran University | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (West) |
| Texas Southern University | Regional Universities (West) | National Universities |
| The Sage Colleges (NY) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Universities (North) |
| Thiel College (PA) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (North) |
| Thomas Edison State College (NJ) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Universities (North) |
| United States Air Force Academy (CO) | Regional Colleges (West) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| University of Bridgeport (CT) | National Universities | Regional Universities (North) |
| University of Dubuque (IA) | Regional Colleges (Midwest) | Regional Universities (Midwest) |
| University of Great Falls (MT) | Regional Universities (West) | Regional Colleges (West) |
| University of Hartford (CT) | National Universities | Regional Universities (North) |
| University of Hawaii--West Oahu | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (West) |
| University of Maine--Presque Isle | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (North) |
| University of Mobile (AL) | Regional Universities (South) | Regional Colleges (South) |
| University of Mount Union (OH) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (Midwest) |
| University of Nebraska--Omaha | Regional Universities (Midwest) | National Universities |
| University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma | Regional Colleges (West) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| University of South Alabama | Regional Universities (South) | National Universities |
| University of Texas--San Antonio | Regional Universities (West) | National Universities |
| University of the Cumberlands (KY) | Regional Colleges (South) | Regional Universities (South) |
| University of the Southwest (NM) | Regional Universities (West) | Regional Colleges (West) |
| University of Wisconsin--Green Bay | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Universities (Midwest) |
| Virginia Intermont College | Regional Colleges (South) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Warner University (FL) | Regional Colleges (South) | Regional Universities (South) |
| Webber International University (FL) | Specialty Schools: Business | Regional Colleges (South) |
| West Virginia Wesleyan College | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Colleges (South) |
| Western Governors University (UT) | Regional Colleges (West) | Regional Universities (West) |
| Wheeling Jesuit University (WV) | Regional Universities (South) | Regional Colleges (South) |
| Wingate University (NC) | National Liberal Arts Colleges | Regional Universities (South) |
| Winston-Salem State University (NC) | Regional Colleges (South) | Regional Universities (South) |
| Xavier University of Louisiana | Regional Universities (South) | National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| York College of Pennsylvania | Regional Colleges (North) | Regional Universities (North) |
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Howard Morris of AR 12:21PM September 13, 2011