Knox College has received a top 20 ranking in the latest service-oriented rankings from Washington Monthly magazine -- rankings that evaluate colleges for "encouraging students to give something back to their country."

Knox is ranked 13th in the nation among liberal arts colleges, in rankings published in the September-October issue of Washington Monthly magazine and on the magazine's website.

Other colleges in the top 20 include Bryn Mawr, Carleton, Swarthmore, Williams, Grinnell, Oberlin, and Amherst.

"This national ranking from Washington Monthly demonstrates the depth and breadth of Knox College's historic commitment to service -- on campus, in the community and around the world -- by generations of our students and faculty, staff and alumni," said Knox President Teresa Amott.

"More than 58,000 hours of service are being donated annually by Knox students in the local community, not for a ranking but because students are committed to helping make a difference," Amott said.

Knox was highly ranked in two other categories by Washington Monthly -- "Affordable Elite Colleges," and colleges that give students the "Best Bang for the Buck."

Details of Washington Monthly Rankings

Social Mobility, which includes recruiting and graduating low-income students. Key factors include:

• 25% of Knox students are eligible for need-based Pell Grants
• Strong graduation rate, thanks to programs such as McNair Scholars and TRIO Achievement that support students from modest income backgrounds and those whose parents do not have a four-year college degree

Service, based on "encouraging students to give something back to their country," such as placing graduates in the Peace Corps and current students in community service activities. Knox programs that affect the score include:

• Knox College's Peace Corps Preparatory Program and Peacebuilding Conference that showcased service-oriented careers
• Campus-wide and community-wide Days of Service, which take place every fall as part of new student orientation and again in the spring.
• KnoxCorps, an innovative civic engagement program that places Knox students in support positions at local non-profit agencies
• Mark and Jeannette Kleine Center for Community Service

Research, which covers both scholarship on campus and advanced degrees earned by graduates. Key factors include:

• Knox is a top college in graduates receiving Fulbright Fellowships
• Among the best colleges in the proportion of graduates who have earned Ph.D. degrees in all fields
• More than $250,000 in research grants awarded annually to its own students
• Vovis Center for Research and Advanced Study
• Recent National Science Foundation grants for scientific research equipment and an initiative to recruit more students for careers in science.

"Best Bang for the Buck"

• Knox is 14th among more than 200 liberal arts colleges in the 2014 "Best Bang for the Buck" rankings -- a measure of economic value received by students from low and middle-income families.

An "Affordable Elite College"

• Knox is ranked 75th in the nation among 200 "Affordable Elite Colleges" -- described as "selective schools (that) give high-achieving non-wealthy students a break in price."

More National Rankings:

• Sierra Club "Cool School"
• Princeton Review "Best 379 Liberal Arts Colleges"