Contact:
Gwen O’Brien
Director of Media Relations
Saint Mary’s College
(574) 284-4579
August 22, 2008 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—For the second year in a row, U.S. News & World Report magazine ranks Saint Mary's College as one of the nation’s “Best Liberal Arts Colleges.” Saint Mary's comes in at 104 out of 248 schools on the list in the magazine’s “2009 America’s Best Colleges” issue, which hits newsstands on Monday, August 25. In addition to its national ranking, the College saw an increase in its overall score as well as most composite scores.
College President Carol Mooney set a goal early in her presidency, which began in June 2004, to move Saint Mary’s into the national liberal arts rankings. A national standing for a second consecutive year indicates Saint Mary’s is on course to meet a key goal in the College’s Strategic Plan, which is to provide “Educational Excellence Equal to that of the Best Colleges in the Country.”
“We know we compete on a national level. Saint Mary's excellent faculty and our commitment to educate the whole person set us apart. The real proof of our success can be found in our graduates,” Mooney said.
Earlier this month the Princeton Review rated Saint Mary’s College as one of the best colleges in the Midwest. The College has held the “Best in the Midwest” designation every year since the Princeton Review began the “Best Regional College” categorizations six years ago.
College-bound students and their parents look to rankings and other indicators of quality when making their decisions about college. U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review, along with other resources such as the University and College Accountability Network (UCAN) and the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE –selections of which are also posted on the U.S. News & World Report Web site), enable them to garner information about Saint Mary’s and other institutions.
About Saint Mary's College: Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, women's institution offering five bachelor's degrees and more than 30 major areas of study. Saint Mary's College has six nationally accredited academic programs: social work, art, music, teacher education, chemistry and nursing. Sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, the College was founded in 1844.
