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RELEASED: Aug. 20, 2004
DANVILLE, KY—Centre College progressed in the U.S. News & World Report rankings released today and remains a top-50 national liberal arts college.
Centre moved up to No. 42, which gives it the highest national ranking of any Kentucky college or university.
Williams College is the top national liberal arts college. Centre is tied for 42nd with DePauw University and Occidental College. Last year Centre was in a three-way tie for 45th.
Centre ranks No. 13 in best value among liberal arts colleges, up from No. 16 last year. Other institutions on the best value list include Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Carleton, Bowdoin and Middlebury.
Long known for its extensive international study opportunities, Centre moved up from No. 10 to No. 9 in "most students studying abroad." In addition to semester-long programs in England, France and Mexico, the College offers exchange programs in Japan and Northern Ireland, as well as a wide variety of short-term programs to such places as Italy, Vietnam and Morocco. Seventy-five percent of Centre students study abroad during their time at the College.
"This advance in the U.S. News rankings is just the latest in a series of very positive developments for the College," says Centre President John Roush. "We have one of our best classes ever entering in the fall, we're in the midst of a successful fundraising campaign, The College Centre project to expand and enhance our main academic and recreational/athletic facilities is moving toward completion, and we just reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the nation for annual alumni-giving percentage. This kind of upward momentum tends to encourage even greater progress and is a tribute to the men and women who teach and serve in other ways at the College as well as to our outstanding alumni."
"We are, of course, pleased with our advance in the U.S. News rankings," says John C. Ward, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College. "Our high rating reflects the reputation of our faculty as outstanding educators and our effective use of resources. We are even more proud that the responses of our students to the National Survey of Student Engagement show that in measures such as level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning, and student interaction with faculty members we are providing one of the most effective educational environments in the country."
Kentucky schools included in the "liberal arts colleges" category of the U.S. News rankings are Transylvania University (in a six-way tie for 105th, ranked in the second tier), Georgetown College (third tier) and Lindsey Wilson (fourth tier).
In the "national universities-doctoral" category, the highest rated Kentucky school is the University of Kentucky, which is in a 10-way tie for 120th (second tier).
For more on the U.S. News rankings, go to http://www.usnews.com/usnews/home.htm.
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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/
For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.
Communications Office
Centre College
600 W. Walnut Street
Danville, KY 40422
Public Information Coordinator: Telephone 859-238-5714