Six Consecutive Years in Princeton Review for UMaine

Contact: Joe Carr at (207) 581-3571 or Kristen Andresen at (207) 581-3742

ORONO — Princeton Review once again lists the University of Maine among the best colleges in the country.

The New York-based publisher announced today “The Best 371 Colleges,” according to its annual guide book.  The publication, which rates the nation’s best choices for undergraduate education, has selected UMaine for its list six years in a row.

Only about 15 percent of the four-year colleges in the U.S. are chosen for the list.

“We are pleased that Princeton Review continues to affirm UMaine’s standing as a top-quality university and we appreciate inclusion on a list that includes the nation’s top colleges and universities,” says UMaine President Robert A. Kennedy.

Princeton Review bases its rankings, to a significant degree, on surveys of current students.  An average of 325 students per institution respond to Princeton Review’s 80-question survey.

“To me, this makes inclusion on the Princeton Review list all the more gratifying,” says Robert Dana, UMaine’s vice president for student affairs and dean of students.  “Our own students are helping spread the word about the quality and value of the UMaine student experience, which certainly validates Princeton Review’s choice.”

“Each of our 371 ‘best’ colleges offers great academics,” says Robert Franek, author of the book and vice president and publisher of The Princeton Review. “However, we don’t rank schools academically because our goal is to help students find and get into the best school for them.  Instead, we tally 62 ranking lists based how students at these schools rated their campus experiences, plus ratings based on institutional data we collect on issues important to applicants.  It’s all about the fit.”

Fall semester classes begin at UMaine on Monday, Aug. 31.