August 17, 2007
St. Mary’s University again has been recognized as a top-tier institution and one of the best values in the West by the annual U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” guide.
In the “Great Schools, Great Prices” category, St. Mary’s was ranked seventh in the West region. In this category, schools are evaluated by relating academic quality to the net cost of attendance. In the “Universities-Master’s” category, which includes schools with a full range of undergraduate and master’s level programs, St. Mary’s was listed 16th in the West region. This is the 14th consecutive year that the University has earned a top-tier ranking.
“As a Catholic and Marianist institution, St. Mary’s strives to provide an exceptional educational experience rooted in service and faith, and to produce graduates who are prepared to become leaders in their professions and communities. This national recognition as a best-value institution speaks directly to the quality, accessibility and affordability that St. Mary’s strives to provide, and our faculty, staff, students and alumni should be proud,” said St. Mary’s President Charles L. Cotrell, Ph.D. “However, other indicators not directly addressed in national rankings are often among those important to prospective St. Mary’s students, including student performance, service to community and the success of our students after graduation.”
U.S. News & World Report bases its rankings on numerous factors, including academic reputation, financial resources, student selectivity and alumni giving.
In recent years, St. Mary’s has received numerous accolades for quality and service. A report by The Education Trust named St. Mary’s as a top national performer in student graduation rates. St. Mary’s was highlighted primarily for success in graduating minority students at the same rates as non-minority students. St. Mary’s also was included in Campus Compact’s “Colleges with a Conscience: 81 Great Schools with Outstanding Community Involvement.”