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51³Ô¹ÏÍø is again ranked among colleges with the "happiest and most successful alumni," according to the compiled by Forbes magazine.

51³Ô¹ÏÍø is ranked 45th in the nation, and second in Illinois to University of Chicago, based on the percentage of alumni who are making gifts to the college, and the total amount donated to the college, adjusted for enrollment.

This is the fifth year in a row that 51³Ô¹ÏÍø has been ranked among the top private colleges in the country in the Forbes "Grateful Grads Index."

"The 'Grateful Grads' ranking from Forbes shows how much 51³Ô¹ÏÍø alumni believe in 51³Ô¹ÏÍø and the value of their education," said 51³Ô¹ÏÍø President Teresa Amott. "Now they're giving back to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, helping make higher education affordable and accessible for as many students as possible."

Data about 51³Ô¹ÏÍø that figure into the ranking include a three-year average alumni giving rate of 27.9 percent and a median gift of $9,624 per enrolled student over the past seven years. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's average alumni giving rate is the highest in Illinois and 33rd in the nation.

In all, more than 7,000 donors to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø gave more than $13.2 million during the 2017-18 fiscal year, including more than $1 million in the Campaign for Our 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, targeted specifically for student financial aid and scholarships.

Forbes says that its Grateful Grads Index shows that "the best way to evaluate a four-year college education may actually revolve around just one variable—alumni giving."