Wesleyan College, a United Methodist College in Macon, Ga., is the nation's #3 "Best Value" private college for 2010 according to The Princeton Review, one of America's most widely known education services and test preparation companies. The Princeton Review teamed with USA TODAY, the nation's most widely read print newspaper, to present its list, "The Princeton Review Best Value Colleges for 2010."
"The Princeton Review Best Value Colleges for 2010" list which features 100 schools in all -- 50 public and 50 private colleges and universities -- posted on January 12 on the websites of The Princeton Review and USA TODAY. Of the 50 schools chosen in each category (public and private), the top 10 are ranked 1 to 10, and the remaining 40 are listed in alphabetical order and unranked.
In its profile of Wesleyan College on USA TODAY’s website, the editors at The Princeton Review commend the school for its “rigorous academic atmosphere,” “small classes and exceedingly approachable professors,” and “unique sisterhood traditions.” Editors claim, “This place is one of the most affordable small, private colleges in the United States. The cost of attendance is about half the national average among schools of its caliber.”
The Princeton Review selected the institutions as its "Best Value" choices for 2010 based on its surveys of administrators and students at more than 650 public and private colleges and universities. The selection criteria covered more than 30 factors in three areas: academics, costs of attendance, and financial aid, using the most recently reported data from each institution for its 2008-09 academic year.
Said Robert Franek, Princeton Review SVP/Publisher, "We know many families and students have serious concerns about paying for college in these tough economic times. Among the nearly 16,000 respondents to our 2009 "College Hopes and Worries Survey," of college applicants and parents, 85% said financial aid would be "very necessary" for them this year. However there are many first-rate institutions offering outstanding academics at a relatively low cost of attendance and/or generous financial aid, including some that may surprise applicants. We’re pleased to have again teamed up with USA TODAY to identify and commend the 100 colleges that do just that and do it best in the nation."
Visitors to The Princeton Review website and USA TODAY website can access the complete lists of 50 public and 50 private “Best Value” colleges. USA TODAY’s site features a database that allows users to view in-depth details about the schools by clicking on an interactive map to explore criteria including cost of attendance and financial aid data, enrollment size, location and The Princeton Review’s analysis of why each school was chosen as a “Best Value” college. The Princeton Review previously reported annual "Best Value" public and private colleges lists (and top 10 ranking schools in each category) on its website and in its book, America's Best Value Colleges, which was published from 2004 to 2007.
The Princeton Review "Top 10 Best Value Private Colleges for 2010" are:
1. Swarthmore College (Swarthmore PA)
2. Harvard College (Cambridge MA)
3. Wesleyan College (Macon, GA)
4. Princeton University (Princeton NJ)
5. Yale University (New Haven CT)
6. Williams College (Williamstown, MA)
7. Rice University (Houston TX)
8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)
9. Amherst College (Amherst, MA)
10. Wellesley College (Wellesley, MA)
The "Top 10 Best Value Public Colleges for 2010" are:
1. University of Virginia (Charlottesville VA)
2. City University of New York – Hunter College (New York NY)
3. New College of Florida (Sarasota FL)
4. Florida State University (Tallahassee FL)
5. University of Colorado (Boulder, CO.)
6. State University of New York at Binghamton (Binghamton NY)
7. Univ. of Georgia (Athens GA)
8. Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA)
9. Texas A & M University (College Station, TX)
10. University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK)
About Wesleyan College:
Wesleyan College was founded in 1836 as the first college in the world chartered to grant degrees to women. Today it is regarded as one of the nation’s finest liberal arts colleges and is consistently recognized for academic excellence. Wesleyan offers a strong merit scholarship program and is one of the nation’s most affordable selective colleges. Students enjoy a thriving residence life program, NCAA Division III athletics, championship IHSA equestrian program, and meaningful opportunities for spiritual development and community leadership. The College’s beautiful 200-acre historic campus is nestled in a northern suburb of Macon, the third largest city in the state.
About The Princeton Review:
The Princeton Review is an education services company known for its test-prep courses, college and graduate school admission services, books, and education programs. The company is also known for its annual college, business and law school rankings reported on its site and in its books in several categories based on surveys it conducts of higher education institutions and of students attending the schools. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University or ETS.