(December 19, 2014)

Centenary College ranked nationally as a 2015 "Best Value" institution

SHREVEPORT, LA — Kiplinger's Personal Finance has once again included Centenary College of Louisiana in its list of the 100 best values for private institutions, and the College has also been recognized in Kiplinger's first-ever combined list of top schools. Both rankings cite four-year schools that deliver outstanding academics at an affordable cost.

"We salute this year's top schools," says Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. "Balancing top-quality education with affordable cost is a challenge for families in today's economy, which is why Kiplinger's rankings are such a valuable resource. The schools on the 2015 list offer students the best of both worlds."

Kiplinger's rankings assess the value of colleges and universities based on measurable quality standards such as retention rates, student-faculty ratio, and the four-year graduation rate. These standards are then compared to cost criteria such as financial aid and average debt at graduation. Centenary has appeared in the Kiplinger's lists multiple times, a testament to the consistent value that the College provides.

Private institutions like Centenary rank highly as "best values" because they typically offer more generous financial aid packages than public colleges. In 2014-2015, 99 percent of Centenary students are receiving some form of financial aid.

"We understand that an outstanding college education represents a significant investment for today's families, so being recognized as a 'best value' in this comprehensive list is a point of pride for Centenary," said President David Rowe. "The College is fortunate to have a committed network of friends and supporters whose generous contributions help to fund scholarships and grants, creating opportunities for Centenary students to achieve more in the classroom, the community, and across the globe."

The complete rankings are available online at kiplinger.com/links/college. The rankings will also appear in the February 2015 issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance.