The Princeton Review's Annual College Rankings Based on 122,000 Student Survey Now Out in 'The Best 373 Colleges - 2011 Edition'

NEW YORK, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a survey by The Princeton Review that asked 122,000 students at 373 top colleges to rate their schools on dozens of topics and report on their campus experiences at them, the best professors are at Reed College (OR). However, the college at which students are most satisfied with their financial aid – the issue many parents care most about – is Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering (MA).  Sewanee-The University of the South (TN) takes top honors as the most beautiful campus while Bowdoin College (ME) serves the best campus food, and Bryn Mawr College (PA) has the best dorms.

The Princeton Review reports the top 20 ranking colleges in these and 57 other categories in its college guidebook, "The Best 373 Colleges: 2011 Edition" (Random House / Princeton Review, $22.99), on sale tomorrow.  Other ranking lists in the book reveal the schools at which students most highly rated their administrators, career center, and library.

The book also has unique ratings – scores from 60 to 99 – on each college's profile in eight categories including Financial Aid, Fire Safety, and Green: a rating based on environmental commitments.  The book's ranking lists, rating scores and school profiles will post on www.princetonreview.com today.

"Each of our 373 best colleges offers great academics and we salute them for that," says Robert Franek, author of the book and Princeton Review Senior VP / Publisher.  "However, they differ widely in their program offerings and campus culture.  That's why we don't rank them 1-373.  Instead we tally 62 ranking lists based entirely on how students at these schools rated their experiences at them.  We also compile eight rating scores for each school based on our institutional research.  For applicants, it's all about finding your best fit college."

Other ranking lists in the book and #1 colleges on them are:

• Best Career Services – Northeastern University (MA)
• Best Classroom Experience – Mount Holyoke College (MA)
• Most Accessible Profs – U.S. Air Force Academy (CO)
• Most Conservative Students – Texas A&M University
• Most Liberal Students – Hampshire College (MA)
• Most Politically Active Students – American University (DC)
• Least Religious Students – Sarah Lawrence College (NY)
• Happiest Students – Brown University (RI)
• Lots of Race/Class Interaction– University of Miami (FL)
• LGBT-Friendly – Emerson College (MA)
• Top Party Schools –University of Georgia
• Top Stone-Cold Sober Schools – Brigham Young University (UT)
• Everyone Plays Intramural Sports – University of Notre Dame (IN)
• Best Athletic Facilities – University of Maryland - College Park
• Best Town-Gown Relations – Clemson University (SC)

About the rankings and survey

The 62 ranking lists are based on surveys of 122,000 students (average 325 per campus) at the 373 schools in the book during the 2009-10 and/or previous two school years. The 80-question survey asked students about their school's academics, administration, campus life, student body, and themselves.  The surveys were completed online at http://survey.review.com.

About the ratings

The eight rating scores (60 to 99) are based primarily on institutional data collected during 2009-10.  Categories include Admissions Selectivity and Academics.  Honor Rolls in the book salute schools that received the highest rating, 99, for Financial Aid (11 colleges), Green (18 colleges), and Fire Safety (16 colleges).

About the book

Annually published since 1992, "The Best 373 Colleges" is one of 165 Random House / Princeton Review books.  It includes a section, "Great Schools for the 15 Most Popular College Majors," and a list, "100 Best Value Colleges for 2010."  No school has ever paid a fee to be profiled in the book.  On August 18, from 8:30 to 9:30 pm EDT, The Princeton Review will host a free online event –  "Finding Your Best Fit College" – with advice for applicants considering schools in the book from author, Robert Franek.  (Information: www.princetonreview.com/bestfitcolleges).

The Princeton Review is an education services company known for its test-prep courses, classes, tutoring, books, and other student resources.  Headquartered in Framingham, MA, with editorial offices in New York and locations across the U.S.A. and abroad, the Company is not affiliated with Princeton University, and not a magazine.

Web Site: http://www.princetonreview.com

SOURCE Random House / Princeton Review Books