Villanova Ranked #1 in North Region for “Great Schools, Great Prices”

University Recognized for Quality of First-Year Student Experience

College of Engineering Ranked #10 Nationwide

VILLANOVA, Pa., Sept. 13, 2011 – Villanova University has again earned #1 placement in the Regional University–North category in U.S. News & World Report’s annual “America’s Best Colleges” rankings, which will hit newsstands on Sept. 20. Villanova has held this top spot for nearly two decades.

Villanova is also ranked #1 in the Regional University–North category for “Great Schools, Great Prices” – a ranking 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 U.S. News, “the higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal.”

Villanova University’s 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.  This section of the ranking lists undergraduate programs accredited by ABET, formerly known as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, according to the strength of their academic reputation. This marks the sixth consecutive year for the College of Engineering in the top 10 nationally.

Additionally, Villanova has been listed by U.S. News as a university with a “Strong Focus on Student Success.”  In reference to the universities included in this “Programs to Look For” section of the ranking, U.S. News states that “some schools are much more determined than others to provide freshmen and all undergrads with the best possible experience….” Within this section, Villanova received special recognition in the “First-Year Experience” list.

About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others.  There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's five colleges – the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the College of Nursing and the Villanova University School of Law. As students grow intellectually, Villanova prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them.