Bluffton University‘s overall score has risen in the U.S. News & World Report rankings of the top tier of “regional colleges” in the Midwest.

The 2014 edition of the magazine’s Best Colleges guidebook gives Bluffton a 68 on a 100-point scale, up from 65 last year. Bluffton’s ranking among 99 comparable Midwestern institutions is 25th, down from the 21st position last year in the “Best Regional Colleges” listing. Now listed in the U.S. News rankings for 16 consecutive years, Bluffton has consistently been ranked in the top tier of Midwest colleges.

“Bluffton is honored to once again be recognized for our strong academic environment, small class sizes and personal attention,” said Ron Headings, vice president for enrollment management and marketing. “This recognition is indicative of the emphasis Bluffton puts on meeting individual needs of students as the focus of the Bluffton educational experience.”

Regional colleges are defined as institutions that focus on undergraduate education and offer a broad range of liberal arts programs, though those programs account for fewer than half of all bachelor’s degrees awarded.