The 25 Most Diverse Schools

Reed College earns a few distinctions in NEWSWEEK's study, as its Portland, Oregon, location (a city that is often featured on lists of "best places to live in America," including Outside and Money magazines') earned it 22nd place on the list of most desirable urban campuses; its 1,400-strong student body helps make it one of the best small schools and its large minority enrollment contributes to its ranking as the 21st most diverse school in the country.

The nonsectarian school prides itself on its culture, campus and curriculum, offering students what it considers to be one of "the nation's most intellectually rigorous undergraduate experiences, with a highly structured academic program balancing broad distribution requirements and in-depth study in a chosen academic discipline."

The private liberal arts school accepts less than a third of its applicants, and those who do attend earn, on average, a 32 on the ACT and 1470 on SAT.  The school offers a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

To rank colleges and universities by diversity, we took a broad view of related issues, including ethnicity, geographic origin, economic status, gender, and sexual orientation. Read more about our methodology here.