Centenary named on Forbes List of "America's Best Colleges"

SHREVEPORT, La. (Centenary News Service) — For the third consecutive year, Centenary College of Louisiana has been named by Forbes.com as one of "America's Best Colleges" for 2010, receiving a ranking of No. 327 out of 610 of "the best public and private colleges and universities —from the student's point of view." Centenary is among a select group of colleges representing only 15 percent of the nearly 4,000 colleges in the U.S.

Centenary College has been selected by Forbes.com as one of "America's Best Colleges" for a third year in a row

The third-annual ranking of "America's Best Colleges," compiled by Forbes and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, ranks the more than 600 undergraduate institutions based on the quality of the education they provide, the experience of the students and how much they achieve.

The survey compiled its college rankings using five general categories, with several components within each general category. They included student satisfaction, postgraduate success, average student debt after four years, four-year college graduation rate, and student nationally competitive awards.

The Forbes ranking is designed to meet the needs of undergraduate students. It attempts to help them evaluate things that many believe are important criteria when selecting a college. Forbes.com states, "To our way of thinking, a good college is one that meets student needs. While other college rankings are based in large part on school reputation as evaluated by college administrators, we focus on things which directly concern incoming students: Will my courses be interesting? Is it likely I will graduate in four years? Will I incur a ton of debt getting my degree? And once I get out of school, will I get a good job?"

Several other Louisiana Colleges are listed, including: Tulane University (No. 151), Louisiana State University (No. 323), Loyola University New Orleans (No. 447), Dillard University (No. 479), University of Louisiana at Lafayette (No. 546), and Southeastern Louisiana University (547).

Earlier this month, Centenary College was named one of the nation's "Best 373 Best Colleges" in the Princeton Review's 2011 college guidebook, which chooses schools based on outstanding academics and an 80-question student survey that focuses on the school's' academics, administration, campus life, and student body.

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and has been recognized as "One of the Best 373 Colleges" by the Princeton Review and one of "America's Best Colleges" and one of "America's Best Private Colleges" by Forbes.com. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.