U.S. News Media Group Announces 26th Annual America's Best Colleges: Harvard, Princeton, and Williams Top Rankings

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) August 20, 2009 -- U.S. News Media Group today released the 2010 edition of America's Best Colleges (www.usnews.com/colleges), which includes rankings of more than 1,400 schools nationwide. Harvard University and Princeton University tie the top of the list for Best National Universities, while Williams College is ranked top for Best Liberal Arts College. The exclusive rankings, available online today at www.usnews.com/colleges, will also be published in the September issue of the U.S.News & World Report magazine, on newsstands starting August 20th.

Over the past 26 years, the U.S. News college rankings, which groups schools based on categories created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, has grown to be the most comprehensive research tool for students and parents considering higher education opportunities. The America's Best Colleges ranking package, which includes extensive editorial content and multimedia resources, has helped families navigate the difficult decisions involved throughout the college process, from college admission and selection to financing options.

"As it becomes increasingly difficult to choose the right school - and pay for it - U.S. News strives to provide students and families with the best information to help guide them through the entire college process," said U.S.News & World Report Editor Brian Kelly. "This year, the recession has seriously challenged the traditional model of paying for college, and so we've developed ranking and editorial content to address the many ways to finance an education as well as information on how to get the most out of such a big investment."

The 2010 America's Best Colleges features the established rankings of the Best National Universities, Best Liberal Arts Colleges, and Best Historically Black Colleges, and includes rankings of Best Colleges for Financial Aid, A+ Schools for B Students, and Up-and-Coming Schools. This year, U.S. News has further expanded the ranking categories on USNews.com to include:

* Best Colleges for Undergraduate Teaching: Top college officials nominated these colleges and universities for having faculty and administrators with the strongest commitment to undergraduate teaching.

In addition to the new list, U.S. News offers an extensive resource of ranking and college information on USNews.com, which hosts the new Advanced Search feature, enabling students and parents to search for colleges based on specific criteria, such as region, cost and financial aid, student body makeup, student activities, sports offered, and more. The site also features additional interactive tools designed to help students and parents navigate through the college selection process, including:

* 100 Best Colleges and Universities Application by HP: Free, web-based application that helps prospective college students and their parents evaluate the colleges and universities through a rich, interactive experience.

* College Click Videos: 2,000 videos offering candid advice on over 150 colleges & universities.

* Interactive College Calendar: Provides important regional and nationwide events and deadlines.

The 2010 America's Best Colleges package provides the most thorough examination of how more than 1,400 accredited four-year schools compare on a set of 15 widely accepted indicators of excellence. Among the many factors weighed in determining the rankings, the key measures of quality are: peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving, and graduation rate performance (National Universities and Liberal Art Colleges).

For more information about America's Best Colleges, visit www.usnews.com/colleges. To access the Premium Online Edition, go to www.usnews.com/usnews/store/products/college_index.htm.

America's Best Colleges Rankings 2010

*For full list of rankings, visit www.usnews.com/college.

About the U.S. News Media Group

The U.S. News Media Group is a multi-platform digital publisher of news and analysis, which includes the monthly U.S. News & World Report magazine, the digital-only U.S. News Weekly magazine, www.usnews.com, and www.rankingsandreviews.com. Focusing on Health, Money & Business, Education, and Public Service/Opinion, the U.S. News Media Group has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers. The U.S. News Media Group's signature franchises include its News You Can Use® brand of journalism and its "America's Best" series of consumer guides that include rankings of colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, health plans, and more.

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