Princeton ranked No. 1 in "U.S. News 2008 America's Best Colleges" in the Best National Universities category, a position it has held for eight consecutive years. Princeton also ranked first for students graduating with the least debt and was listed No. 2 among national universities for best value.
The list of "The 25 Hottest Schools in America" released as a joint effort by the Kaplan education and testing firm and Newsweek magazine in its 2008 "How to Get into College" guide recognized Princeton as the "Hottest for Liberal Arts."
In response to the rankings, Princeton officials said, "We're gratified that Princeton continues to be recognized, not only for the overall quality of the education we provide, but also for our commitment to financial aid initiatives that make a Princeton education accessible to all admitted students, and the strength of the individual programs we offer."
Princeton last year announced the establishment of its University Center for the Creative and Performing Arts with the goal of infusing the arts throughout the college experience. The University also continues to serve as a model for efforts to make education more affordable, leading the way in launching sweeping initiatives that include replacing loans with grants that do not have to be repaid, which allows undergraduates to graduate debt free.
An estimated 53 percent of Princeton's undergraduate student body is on financial aid, and 54 percent of the incoming class of 2011 will receive aid. U.S. News continues to list Princeton among the top 25 national universities with the greatest economic diversity.
Also receiving recognition on unranked lists were the senior thesis requirement and opportunities for undergraduate research, the University's strong focus on writing, and the quality of students' first-year experience.
"While we understand that many students consider the rankings when choosing a university, we continue to encourage students to use a variety of resources, including campus visits, to find the best match for them," Princeton officials said. "It is not possible for any ranking to capture the distinctiveness of an institution or to determine whether any university is the best choice for a student." - Princeton University News
