U.S. News and World Report named Loyola University Maryland number three among regional universities in the North in its 2011 “America’s Best Colleges” survey. Loyola has ranked among the Top 10 institutions in its category for more than a decade.
Loyola was also included in three additional categories: “Up-and-Comers,” “Great Schools at Great Prices,” and ”A+ Schools for B Students.”
“Up-and-Comers” recognizes institutions whose peers have cited them for making the most promising and innovative changes in the areas of academics, faculty, student life, campus, or facilities. In this category, Loyola ranked fifth among Northern regional universities.
“I am delighted to see Loyola rank so highly among a list of truly exceptional institutions,” said Rev. Brian F. Linnane, S.J., president of Loyola. “I am also very pleased to see the ambitious initiatives we’ve pursued in recent years recognized by our peers. We are always striving to enhance our students’ experience at Loyola—in the classroom, through service to their communities, in the unique learning opportunities we provide through internships and international study, and through our athletics programs. It is gratifying to see this commitment recognized by fellow educators.”
“Great Schools at Great Prices,” in which Loyola ranked 12th in the North region, considers the net cost of attendance for a student who receives the average level of need-based financial aid. Only schools ranked in or near the top half of their categories are included because the survey assumes that the most significant values occur at schools that are above average academically.
“A+ Schools for B Students” recognizes institutions where good students who may not consider themselves academic “stars” have a strong chance of being admitted and thriving. The schools included in this list were not ranked numerically.
Loyola also ranked number 10 in terms percentage of students who study abroad, and its finance and accounting programs came in 21st and 24th, respectively, in the magazine’s rankings of undergraduate business specialty programs. The University’s four-year graduation rate, 77 percent, was among the top 100 in the nation.
The recognition in U.S. News follows Loyola’s inclusion in the Princeton Review’s Best 373 Colleges guide. In addition, the Princeton Review ranked Loyola's residence halls third in the country, its athletic facilities 10th, and its study abroad program 18th.
Additional information about this year’s rankings is available at www.usnews.com. Survey highlights will be published in the September 2010 print issue of the magazine, on newsstands Aug. 31.
For more information or questions regarding this story, contact Media Relations Manager Nick Alexopulos at nalexopulos@loyola.edu or 410-617-5025.