New College President Corcoran: Success Beyond Rankings

Richard Corcoran, president of New College of Florida, is urging the Sarasota community to define success by consistent action and personal growth, not public opinion or rankings, as the college navigates change.

Corcoran stated that New College measures its achievements by student success, not commentary. This fall, three independent national publications offered distinct assessments.

Washington Monthly ranked New College the No. 1 public liberal arts college and sixth among all liberal arts colleges, focusing on social mobility, graduation outcomes and public service. The Princeton Review reported students rated professors 95 for how interesting and 95 for how accessible they are. New College also ranked second nationally for financial aid and 24th for value, and was named one of 50 Colleges That Create Futures.

U.S. News & World Report recognized New College with double-digit growth in academic investment per student, placing it 14th nationally among liberal arts colleges. Corcoran noted that when different publications, using varied methodologies, arrive at similar positive conclusions, it warrants attention.

Corcoran clarified that New College does not pursue rankings, viewing them as a reflection of work rather than the work itself. He defined success through tangible student experiences: a student writing a rigorous senior thesis, an undergraduate researcher studying dolphins on Sarasota Bay, a student taking ownership of their education through an academic contract, and athletes building a new program. The new Markovitz Socratic Stage embodies the classical educational tradition that values rigorous questioning, a tradition well-suited to Sarasota.

Corcoran invited the community to judge New College by its actions. He encouraged residents to visit campus, attend classes and meet students to witness the college's commitment to showing up, doing the work and embracing challenges—the same standards they aim to equip their graduates with, preparing them for futures in Sarasota and beyond.