(December 23, 2015)

Centenary named a 2016 "Best College Value" by Kiplinger's Personal Finance

SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary College is ranked in the Top 100 "best values" for private institutions by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. In mid-December, Kiplinger's also included Centenary in an exclusive list of 300 public and private colleges that combine outstanding academics with affordable cost.

"Students selected to attend Centenary know that they and their families are investing in an educational experience that will allow them to Do More in 4 years than they would be able to accomplish at most other Tier One National Liberal Arts Colleges," said President David Rowe. "Centenary in Paris and Passport Points fund at least two international educational experiences for each student. Centenary's innovative Hybrid Semesters enable students to complete as much as 33% more course credits per year than at other institutions with no extra tuition or fees, creating a pathway for interested students to earn a bachelor's degree and a Master of Arts in Teaching within four years at the same cost as a traditional bachelor's degree."

Kiplinger assesses value by measurable standards of academic quality and affordability. Quality measures include the admission rate, the percentage of students who return for sophomore year, the student-faculty ratio, and four-year graduation rate. Cost criteria include sticker price, financial aid, and average debt at graduation. Centenary has appeared on the list multiple times, a testament to the consistent value the College provides.

"We start with a universe of 1,200 schools, so each school on our rankings, from number one to number 300, is a best value," said Janet Bodnar, Editor of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. "Families can use this list as a starting point and then tailor it to each student's preference for such things as size, location, campus culture, and major."

Complete rankings are available online at Kiplinger.com/links/college and will also appear in print in the February 2016 issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance.