FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Thursday, 8/21/97)
Contact: Lynn Stewart, Centenary News Service
318/869-5120 or 869-5709
SHREVEPORT, LA -- In its annual "America's Best Colleges" issue, on newsstands Aug. 25, U.S. News names Centenary College No. 6 among the South's Top 15 regional colleges/universities.
Centenary was also ranked No. 7 among the 15 "best college values" in the South in a separate listing of institutions that offer a high quality education at a reasonable cost. The "Best College Values" rankings will appear in a special section on financing college in the Sept. 8 issue on newsstands Sept. 1.
The rankings mark the eighth consecutive year that Centenary College has been listed by the magazine. Last year Centenary was also ranked sixth among the South's Top 15 regional universities and sixth among the Top 15 best values.
Today's rankings follow on the heels of Money magazine's listing last week, which showed Centenary among the nation's "150 Best College Values." Centenary, the only college in Louisiana to be named, was also ranked No. 12 in Money's listing of "Best Buys in Your Area" for states in the Southwest.
One other college in Louisiana is in the U.S. News Top 15 Southern universities this year, Loyola University at No. 8. Loyola was also listed among the best-value Southern universities at No. 12.
To arrive at its quality rankings, U.S. News did a reputational survey of officials at accredited four-year colleges and universities. The results of that survey were combined with educational data that measured student selectivity, faculty resources, financial resources, retention rate and alumni giving. For its best-value rankings, the magazine considered a quality-to-price ratio, the percent of undergraduates receiving grants meeting needs, grants exceeding financial needs and the percent of total costs covered by average grants.
Centenary College of Louisiana, founded in 1825, is the nation's oldest private liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River. It is a selective college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Students come from 25 states and 12 foreign countries. More than 92 percent of the faculty hold the highest degrees in their fields.
Central to the educational experience is the Centenary Plan, a three-part program that requires each student to study and live in another culture, explore careers and graduate programs, and give back to the community via volunteer activities or other service-learning projects.
U.S. News's Top 15 colleges and universities in the South this year are:
1. University of Richmond (VA)
2. Rollins College (FL)
3. James Madison University (VA)
3. Stetson University (FL)
5. Mary Washington College (VA)
6. CENTENARY COLLEGE OF LOUISIANA
7. Samford University (AL)
8. Loyola University of Louisiana
8. The Citadel (SC)
10. Appalachian State University (NC)
10. Converse College (SC)
12. Harding University (AR)
14. Spring Hill College (AL)
15. Meredith College (NC)
15. Wheeling Jesuit College (WV)
The institutions contained on the "Best Values" list are:
1. The Citadel (SC)
2. Harding University (AR)
3. Converse College (SC)
4. Mercer University (GA)
4. Murray State University (KY)
4. Wheeling Jesuit College (WV)
7. CENTENARY COLLEGE OF LOUISIANA
8. Rollins College (FL)
8. Queens College (NC)
10. Spring Hill College (AL)
10. Spring Hill College (VA)
12. Loyola University of Louisiana
12. Marymount University (VA)
15. Tuskegee University (AL)
15. Samford University (AL)
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