For Immediate Release
August 20, 2009
VILLANOVA, Pa., August 20, 2009 – Villanova University has again placed #1 in the North Region/Masters category in the US News & World Report’s annual “America’s Best Colleges” rankings, which will hit news stands on August 24. Villanova has held the top spot for nearly two decades.
US News has also ranked Villanova #1 in the North Region/Masters category for “Great Schools, Great Prices.” This ranking is determined by a school’s academic quality in relation to the net cost of attendance for a student who receives the average level of need-based financial aid. According to US News, “the higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal.”
In addition, the Villanova College of Engineering has earned the #10 spot in the nation in the Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs category among schools whose highest degree is a bachelor's or master's.
Lastly, in keeping with Villanova’s Augustinian tradition—which emphasizes the holistic education and well-being of each student, along with the importance of community—the university has been recognized by US News in the “Strong Commitment to Teaching,” “First-Year Experience,” “Learning Communities,” and “Highest Graduation Rate” areas of the rankings.
Villanova University, a co-educational Roman Catholic institution, was founded by the Order of Saint Augustine in 1842. A premier institution of higher education, Villanova provides a comprehensive education rooted in the liberal arts; a shared commitment to the Augustinian ideals of truth, unity and love; and a community dedicated to service to others. A wide variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs are offered through the University’s four colleges: the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering and the College of Nursing, as well as the Villanova School of Law. With a total enrollment that surpasses 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students, Villanova is the oldest and largest Catholic university in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
