Princeton Review guidebook rates University among nationā€™s ā€˜Bestā€™

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The Princeton Review has placed the University of Louisiana at Ā鶹“«Ć½app among the top 15 percent of the nationā€™s four-year colleges for undergraduate education.

The educational services company released its 2019 edition of ā€œThe Best 384 Collegesā€ on Tuesday. The guideā€™s editors first considered about 2,500 public and private colleges and universities in the U.S.

ā€œWe picked the 384 ā€˜bestā€™ colleges for our book primarily for their outstanding academics. We highly recommend each one,ā€ said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review's editor-in-chief and the bookā€™s lead author.

The guide does not rank schools from 1 to 384 in any category. Instead, it uses studentsā€™ ratings of their schools to compile 62 ranking lists of top 20 colleges.

The lists are based on what respondents have to say about professors, campus culture and student life. Prospective students can use the information to narrow their college searches, Franek said.

ā€œIn the end, it's all about the fitā€ for students, he added.

UL Ā鶹“«Ć½app ranked high in ā€œTown-Gown Relations,ā€ the connection between the University and its environs. 

One survey respondent said students embody ā€œĀ鶹“«Ć½appā€™s culture: creative, friendly and food-loving.ā€ Another cited the emphasis the University places on community service, while a biology major lauded the regionā€™s cultural calendar packed with events such as Festival Acadiens et CrĆ©oles and Festival International de Louisiane.

Survey participants further highlighted the Universityā€™s attentive and passionate faculty, and its welcoming and diverse student body.

ā€œEveryone accepts one another for who they are. There are friends for everyone,ā€ said one respondent.

Another replied: ā€œWe have students of all ethnicities, races, religions and styles. There are very few social boundaries and everyone is accepting of our diverse student body.ā€

Dr. DeWayne Bowie, vice president for Enrollment Management, said the Universityā€™s inclusion in the guidebook is ā€œespecially gratifying since itā€™s based on responses from our students.ā€

ā€œTheir appraisals offer first-hand knowledge of the academic and extracurricular opportunities we offer, and prospective students can rely on that advice as they work to choose a college thatā€™s best for them.ā€

The complete list of school profiles and rankings are available at .

The Princeton Review is known for its tutoring, test-prep courses, books, and other student resources. It is not affiliated with Princeton University.

This is the 27th edition of its ā€œBest Collegesā€ guide.


Photo caption: Nhu Lam is a junior in UL Ā鶹“«Ć½appā€™s College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions. (Photo credit: Doug Dugas / University of Louisiana at Ā鶹“«Ć½app)