AXA Foundation Provides $670,000 in Annual Scholarships In Association with U.S. News & World Report

NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- For the 11^th year, U.S. News & World Report and the AXA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, announce the offering of the AXA Achievement^sm Scholarships, awarding $670,000 to students nationwide.

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Through AXA Achievement^sm, AXA Equitable is one of the nation's largest corporate providers of scholarships and a comprehensive resource for information to help students and parents plan for college. Over $21.5 million has been awarded in scholarships to more than 4,800 students since the scholarship program's inception.

Applications are available now at www.axa-achievement.com, and the deadline for submissions is December 1, 2012. Additional details of the AXA Achievement^sm program are featured in the U.S. News & World Report 2013 Best Colleges book available at USNews.com and on newsstands September 18.

"College tuition is constantly on the rise, making AXA Achievement^sm an invaluable resource for students and families through its scholarship assistance and providing the information needed to plan a successful future," said Kerry Dyer, Publisher of U.S. News & World Report. "U.S. News is proud to partner with such a great organization that helps students who are making a difference, and their families, get ahead."

Under the AXA Achievement^sm Scholarship program, 52 students – one from each state, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico – are awarded scholarships of $10,000. Of those students, 10 are chosen as national winners and receive an additional $15,000 scholarship award.

Qualified candidates will have demonstrated drive and determination to reach goals, the ability to succeed in a college environment, and respect for self, family and community. The scholarship is administered by Scholarship Management Services™, a program of Scholarship America^sm, one of the nation's largest nonprofit private sector scholarship and educational support organizations.

The U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, which groups schools based on categories created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, has grown to be the most comprehensive research tool for students and parents considering higher education opportunities.

About AXA Foundation
The AXA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of AXA Equitable, one of the nation's premier financial services organizations and a member of the global AXA Group, a worldwide leader in financial protection and wealth management. The Foundation directs the company's philanthropic and volunteer activities, working to improve the quality of life in communities across the country where AXA has a presence. Since its inception, the AXA Foundation has awarded over $21.5 million in college scholarships through its multifaceted flagship program, AXA Achievement, which helps make college possible by providing access and advice. More than 4,800 students, known as AXA Achievers, have received scholarships. For more information and to read about the 2012 AXA Achievers, visit www.axa-achievement.com.

About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is a multi-platform, digital publisher of news and analysis, which includes the digital-only U.S. News Weekly magazine, www.usnews.com, and www.rankingsandreviews.com. Focusing on Health, Money, Education, Travel, Cars, and Public Service/Opinion, U.S. News has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers. U.S. News & World Report's signature franchise includes its News You Can Use® brand of journalism and its "Best" series of consumer guides that include rankings of colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, mutual funds, health plans, and more.

SOURCE U.S. News & World Report