Providence, RI -- The 2007 edition of U.S. News' popular college guide, America's Best Colleges, once again finds Providence College in familiar and prestigious company. The College's 85 percent graduation rate -- considered a "key criteria in judging schools" by U.S. News editors -- is the highest among its peer institutions nationwide. Villanova University of Pennsylvania also reported an 85 percent graduation rate.
Providence is ranked #2 in the north region's "Best Universities - Master's" category -- the designation for 557 universities nationwide that offer a full range of undergraduate and master's programs. This year, Providence shares the #2 designation with Loyola College in Maryland.
This ranking in the popular annual college guide marks the eleventh consecutive year Providence has been ranked as one of the top universities in the north region. Providence shared the #1 position with Villanova University of Pennsylvania in 1998 and -- with this year's achievement -- has been ranked #2 in the ten other annual editions of the guide from 1997-2007.
Providence College also is listed among the top 15 schools in its category offering the "best value" which relates a school's academic quality to the net cost of attendance for a student who receives the average level of need-based financial aid. "The higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal," explain guide editors.
Providence College - home to the Feinstein Institute for Public Service, which offered the nation's first-ever bachelor's degree in public and community service studies - has long been recognized for the scope and quality of its service-learning initiatives. U.S. News has again cited the College in the service-learning category which lists "outstanding examples of academic programs that are believed to lead to student success." Providence is among the 25 institutions cited most frequently by college presidents, chief academic officers, and deans of admission as having expertise in this area.
"At Providence College, we have always believed in the transforming nature of our Catholic and Dominican, liberal arts education," notes College President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. "We're gratified that external sources have consistently ranked Providence among the top colleges and universities nationwide. The additional recognition of Providence College in these distinctive performance categories -- by a resource trusted by students and their parents -- is welcome affirmation that we are achieving our mission."
Information on the 2007 rankings can be found on the U.S. News Web site at: www.USNews.com. Both the weekly edition of U.S. News featuring the college rankings and the book, America's Best Colleges, will be available at newsstands on Monday, August 21, 2006.
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