The National Collegiate Scouting Association ranked Dartmouth 14th among Division I schools, and 41st overall, in its annual collegiate power rankings. Dartmouth dropped from 10th to 14th in Division I rankings and from 26th to 41st overall from last year, according to the organization's website. The rankings recognize colleges and universities which demonstrate excellence in both academics and athletics.
The Big Green has appeared in the rankings every year, with its highest placement of fourth in Division I and fifth overall in 2004, according to the NCSA's website. This is the eighth year of the rankings, which are meant to be "an objective tool to empower student-athletes to find the right fight in a college or university, not only for it's athletics, but academics as well," according to a statement from CEO and founder of the Association, Chris Krause.
The NCSA collects data by looking at U.S. News & World Report academic rankings, student-athlete graduation rates and the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup rankings, which evaluate the strength of NCAA athletic departments, according to an NCSA press release on the rankings.
This year, Dartmouth's academic rank was 11, while its athletic rank was 128. Its total power ranking came to 49.66, giving it the 41st position overall. The list includes less than 6 percent of all national colleges and universities, putting Dartmouth in the upper echelons of the college academic and athletic community.
Amherst College, Williams College and Middlebury College were ranked in the top three positions overall. Williams earned the top spot in both academic and athletic rankings. Within Division I, Stanford University earned the number one rank, with the fourth overall academic rank and the top athletic rank. Princeton University took the second spot, while Duke University earned the third rank. In Division II, the University of California San Diego received the top position.
The National Collegiate Scouting Association is a network devoted to helping potential athletes in the recruiting process. With the slogan, "a committed athletic minded team whose mission is to empower leaders through sports with unparalleled passion, energy, love and appreciation for what sports has done for us," the network was founded in 2002 and has been working to bridge the gap between college coaches and high school athletes. Since its inception, it has helped to connect more than 35,000 college coaches with high school athletes hoping to play sports in college.
"Our hope is to educate these student athletes and their parents on the importance of evaluating schools that will provide the education for an enriched, successful career after college, in addition to athletic success," Krause said in a statement.
Rick Bender, Dartmouth's varsity athletics communications director, could not be reached for comment by press time.
